Plant cells and plants which synthesize a starch with an increased final viscosity

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a plant cell which is genetically modified, the genetic modification leading to the reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEI proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell in comparison with corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified. Further aspects of the invention relate to plants containing such plant cells, to a method for generating the plant cells and plants, and to the starch obtainable from them.

The present invention relates to plant cells and plants which are genetically modified, the genetic modification leading to the reduction of the activity of SSIII and BEI and BEII proteins in comparison with corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified. Furthermore, the present invention relates to means and methods for the generation of such plant cells and plants. Such plant cells and plants synthesize a modified starch which is characterized in that it has an amylose content of at least 30% and a phosphate content which is increased in comparison with starch from corresponding wild-type plants which have not been genetically modified and which have a final viscosity in the RVA analysis which is increased over the prior art and/or a modified side-chain distribution and/or an increased gel strength in the Texture Analyser and/or a modified granule morphology and/or a modified mean granule size. The present invention thus also relates to the starch synthesized by the plant cells and plants according to the invention, and to methods for producing this starch.

In view of the increasing importance which is currently attached to plant constituents as renewable raw materials, one of the tasks of biotechnology research is to attempt an adaptation of these vegetable raw materials to the requirements of the processing industry. In order to make possible the use of renewable raw materials in as many fields of application as possible, it is additionally necessary to arrive at very diverse substances.

The polysaccharide starch is a polymer of chemically uniform units, the glucose molecules. However, it takes the form of a highly complex mixture of different forms of molecules which differ with regard to their degree of polymerization and the occurrence of branches of the glucose chains. Starch is therefore no uniform raw material. One distinguishes between two chemically different components of starch, amylose and amylopectin. In typical plants used for starch production such as, for example, maize, wheat or potato, amylose starch accounts for approximately 20%-30% and amylopectin starch for approximately 70%-80% of the starch synthesized. Amylose has long been regarded as a linear polymer consisting of α-1,4-glycosidically linked α-D-glucose monomers. However, more recent studies have demonstrated the presence of α-1,6-glycosidic branch points (approx. 0.1%) (Hizukuri and Takagi, Carbohydr. Res. 134, (1984), 1-10; Takeda et al., Carbohydr. Res. 132, (1984), 83-92).

Various methods are available for determining the amylose content. Some of these methods are based on the iodine-binding capacity of amylose, which can determine potentiometrically (Banks & Greenwood, in W. Banks & C. T. Greenwood, Starch and its components (pp. 51-66), Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press), amperometrically (Larson et al., Analytical Chemistry 25(5), (1953), 802-804) or spectrophotometrically (Morrison & Laignelet, J. Cereal Sc. 1, (1983), 9-20). The amylose content may also be determined calorimetrically by means of DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) measurements (Kugimiya & Donovan, Journal of Food Science 46, (1981), 765-770; Sievert & Holm, Starch/Stärke 45 (4), (1993), 136-139). It is furthermore possible to determine the amylose content via the use of SEC (size exclusion chromatography) chromatography of native or debranched starch. This method has been recommended in particular for determining the amylose content of genetically modified starches (Gérard et al., Carbohydrate Polymers 44, (2001), 19-27).

In contrast to amylose, amylopectin shows a higher degree of branching and has approximately 4% of branch points brought about by the occurrence of additional α-1,6-glycosidic linkages. Amylopectin constitutes a complex mixture of glucose chains with different branching patterns. Another important difference between amylose and amylopectin is their molecular weight. While amylose, depending on the origin of the starch, has a molecular weight of 5×10⁵-10⁶ Da, the molecular weight of amylopectin is between 10⁷ and 10⁸ Da. The two macromolecules can be distinguished on the basis of their molecular weight and their different physico-chemical properties, and the simplest way of visualizing this is through their different iodine-binding properties.

In addition to the amylose/amylopectin ratio and the phosphate content, the functional properties of starch are affected greatly by the molecular weight, the side-chain distribution pattern, the ionic content, the lipid and protein content, the mean granule size and the granule morphology and the like. Important functional properties which may be mentioned in this context are solubility, the retrogradation behaviour, the water-binding capacity, the film-forming properties, viscosity, the gelatinization properties, freeze-thaw-stability, acid stability, gel strength and the like. Granule size may also be of importance for various applications.

The skilled workers frequently resort to different methods to determine the gelatinization properties, one of which is the final viscosity. Depending on the method used, absolute values in particular, but also relative values, may differ between one and the same starch sample. A rapid and effective method for analysing the gelatinization properties is the RVA analysis. Depending on the choice of the parameters and the temperature profile in the RVA analysis, different RVA profiles are obtained for one and the same sample. It should be mentioned that in some cases different profiles were used in the prior art mentioned hereinbelow when determining the gelatinization properties.

An overview over different plant species with a reduction of the enzymes participating in starch biosynthesis can be found in Kossmann and Lloyd (2000, Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 19(3), 171-126).

To date, plants have been described in which the activity of an SSIII protein (Abel et al., 1996, The Plant Journal 10(6), 9891-991; Lloyd et al., 1999, Biochemical Journal 338, 515-521) or the activity of a BEI protein (Kossmann et al. 1991, Mol Gen Genet 230, 39-44); Safford et al., 1998, Carbohydrate Polymers 35, 155-168, or the activity of a BEII protein (Jobling et al., 1999, The Plant Journal 18, or the activity of a BEI and a BEII protein (Schwall et al., 2000, Nature Biotechnology 18, 551-554; WO 96/34968), or the activity of a BEI and an SSIII (WO 00/08184) protein are reduced.

In plants in which the activity of an SSIII protein is reduced, a relative shift of the amylopectin side chains from longer chains towards shorter chains (Lloyd et al., 1999, Biochemical Journal 338, 515-521), a 70% higher phosphate content, no changes in the amylose content (Abel et al., 1996, The Plant Journal 10(6), 9891-991) and a reduced final viscosity in the RVA analysis (Abel, 1995, PhD Thesis at the Freie Universität Berlin) are observed in comparison with corresponding wild-type plants. In such plants, which are also described in WO 00/08184, a 197% increase in the phosphate content, 123% increase in the amylose content and a final viscosity in the RVA analysis which drops to 76% of that of the wild type can be observed in the isolated starch in comparison with untransformed wild-type plants. Moreover, the gel strength of the starch in question drops to 84% of the wild type.

The spectrophotometric analysis by the method of Morrison & Laignelet (1983, J. Cereal Sc. 1, 9-20) reveals an amylose content of up to a maximum of 89.14% (corresponding to 344% of the wild type) and a starch phosphate content which corresponds to up to a maximum of 522% of the phosphate content of starch isolated from corresponding wild-type plants in plants with a reduced activity of both a BEI and a BEII protein. The RVA analysis reveals a final viscosity value in these starches which is increased up to a maximum of 237%. Moreover, the modified granule morphology in starch grains isolated from such plants is distinguished by the fact that the granules have large grooves in the centre of the granule in question when viewed under the microscope under polarized light.

As a result, the skilled worker is familiar with plant cells and plants and starches synthesized by them which have an increased amylose and phosphate content but whose final viscosity in the RVA analysis is increased by not more than up to a maximum of 256% in comparison with wild-type plants which have not been genetically modified. Higher final viscosities in the RVA analysis have not been achieved to date. However, this would be desirable since less starch solids have to be employed, for example when using such a starch as thickener, gelling agent or binder, in order to achieve the desired effect. This allows for example the reduction of the amount of additives in human and animal foods, in healthcare products and in cosmetics. It would also be possible to employ smaller amounts of starch when using such a starch in glues, leading to reduced costs for example in making, for example, paper, cardboard and insulating board.

The present invention is thus based on the object of providing plant cells, plants and starch from suitable plant cells or plants with an increased amylose content and an increased phosphate content and, in the RVA analysis, a final viscosity which is increased by at least 270% and/or an increased gel strength of the gelatinized starch and/or a modified granule morphology.

This object is achieved by providing the embodiments specified in the patent claims.

A first aspect of the present invention thus relates to a plant cell which is genetically modified, the genetic modification leading to the reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII proteins occurring endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEI proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell in comparison to corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified.

In this context, the genetic modification can be any genetic modification which leads to a reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEI proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell in comparison to corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified.

For the purposes of the invention, the genetic modification may encompass for example the generation of plant cells according to the invention by subjecting one or more genes to mutagenesis. The type of mutation is irrelevant as long as it leads to a reduction of the activity of an SSIII protein and/or a BEI protein and/or a BEII protein. In connection with the present invention, the term “mutagenesis” is understood as meaning any type of mutation, such as, for example, deletions, point mutations (nucleotide substitutions), insertions, inversions, gene conversions or chromosome translocation.

In this context, the mutation can be generated by using chemical agents or high-energy radiation (for example x-rays, neutron, gamma, UV radiation). Agents which can be employed for generating chemically induced mutations, and the mutations generated thereby by the action of the mutagens in question, are described, for example, by Ehrenberg and Husain, 1981, (Mutation Research 86, 1-113), Müller, 1972 (Biologisches Zentralblatt 91 (1), 31-48). The generation of rice mutants using gamma rays, ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), N-methyl-N-nitrosurea or sodium azide (NaN3) is described, for example, in Jauhar and Siddiq (1999, Indian Journal of Genetics, 59 (1), 23-28), in Rao (1977, Cytologica 42, 443-450), Gupta and Sharma (1990, Oryza 27, 217-219) and Satoh and Omura (1981, Japanese Journal of Breeding 31 (3), 316-326). The generation of wheat mutants using NaN₃ or maleic hydrazide is described in Arora et al. (1992, Anals of Biology 8 (1), 65-69). An overview over the generation of wheat mutants using different types of high-energy radiation and chemical agents is given in Scarascia-Mugnozza et al. (1993, Mutation Breeding Review 10, 1-28). Svec et al. (1998, Cereal Research Communications 26 (4), 391-396) describes the use of N-ethyl-N-nitrosurea for generating mutants in triticale. The use of MMS and gamma radiation for generating millet mutants is described in Shashidhara et al. (1990, Journal of Maharashtra Agricultural Universities 15 (1), 20-23).

The generation of mutants in plant species whose propagation is predominantly vegetatively was described for example for potatoes which produce a modified starch (Hovenkamp-Hermelink et al. (1987, Theoretical and Applied Genetics 75, 217-221) and for mint with an increased oil yield/modified oil quality (Dwivedi et al., 2000, Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences 22, 460-463). All of these methods are suitable in principle for generating the plant cells according to the invention and the starch produced by them.

Mutations in the relevant genes, in particular in genes encoding a BEI protein and/or a BEII protein and/or an SSIII protein, can be identified with the aid of methods known to the skilled worker. Analyses based on hybridizations with probes (Southern blot), the amplification by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the sequencing of genomic sequences in question, and the search for individual nucleotide substitutions, may be employed in particular. One method of identifying mutations with the aid of hybridization patterns is, for example, the search for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) (Nam et al., 1989, The Plant Cell 1, 699-705; Leister and Dean, 1993, The Plant Journal 4 (4), 745-750). An example of a method based on PCR is the analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) (Castiglioni et al., 1998, Genetics 149, 2039-2056; Meksem et al., 2001, Molecular Genetics and Genomics 265, 207-214; Meyer et al., 1998, Molecular and General Genetics 259, 150-160). The use of amplified fragments cleaved with the aid of restriction endonucleases (cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences, CAPS) may also be used for identifying mutations (Konieczny and Ausubel, 1993, The Plant Journal 4, 403-410; Jarvis et al., 1994, Plant Molecular Biology 24, 685-687; Bachem et al., 1996, The Plant Journal 9 (5), 745-753). Methods for determining SNPs have been described, inter alia, by Qi et al. (2001, Nucleic Acids Research 29 (22), e116) Drenkard et al. (2000, Plant Physiology 124, 1483-1492) and Cho et al. (1999, Nature Genetics 23, 203-207). Methods which are particularly suitable are those which permit a large number of plants to be analysed within a short time for mutations in specific genes. Such a method, known as TILLING (targetting induced local lesions in genomes), has been described by McCallum et al. (2000, Plant Physiology 123, 439-442).

The use of all of these methods is suitable in principle for the purposes of the present invention.

Hoogkamp et al. (2000, Potato Research 43, 179-189) have isolated stable potato mutants which contain an amylose-free starch. These plants no longer synthesize active enzyme for a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS I). After subjecting these plants to another mutagenesis, those which additionally have mutations in genes which are involved in starch biosynthesis may be selected. Plants which synthesize starch with improved characteristics might thus be generated. Using the suitable method, it is also possible to identify and isolate the plant cells according to the invention which produce a starch according to the invention.

Moreover, the plant cells according to the invention may also be generated with the aid of homologous transposons, that is to say transposons which are naturally present in the plant cells in question. A detailed description of this method is given hereinbelow.

All of the abovementioned methods are suitable in principle for generating plant cells according to the invention and the modified starch synthesized by them. The present invention therefore also relates to methods for generating genetically modified plant cells which synthesize a modified starch, this starch being characterized in that it has an amylose content of at least 30%, in that it has an increased phosphate content in comparison with starch from corresponding wild-type plant cells which have not been genetically modified and in that it has an increased final viscosity in the RVA analysis in comparison with starch from corresponding wild-type plant cells which have not been genetically modified.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to methods for generating a plant cell which synthesizes a modified starch, comprising the genetic modification of the plant cell, the genetic modification leading to the reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEI proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell, in comparison with corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified.

Yet a further aspect of the present invention relates to methods for generating a genetically modified plant which synthesizes a modified starch, in which

a) a plant cell is generated as described above;

b) a plant is regenerated from, or using, the plant cell generated in accordance with a); and,

c) if appropriate, further plants are generated from the plant generated in accordance with step b).

In connection with the present invention, the term “genetically modified” means that the genetic information of the plant cell is altered.

In this context, a reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and a reduction of the activity of one or more BEI proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and a reduction of the activity of one or more BEII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell is observed in the plant cells according to the invention in comparison with corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified.

The genetic modifications for generating the plant cells according to the invention can be performed simultaneously or in consecutive steps. In this context, each genetic modification can lead to the reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII proteins and/or one or more BEI proteins and/or one or more BEII proteins. The starting material may be either wild-type plants or wild-type plant cells in which no previous genetic modification in order to reduce the activity of one or more SSIII proteins and/or one or more BEI proteins and/or one or more BEII proteins has been performed, or else genetically modified plant cells or plants in which the activity of one or more SSIII proteins and/or one or more BEI proteins and/or one or more BEII proteins has already been carried out by genetic modification. If such genetically modified plants (plant cells) constitute the starting material, the genetic modifications which are subsequently carried out preferably only relate to the activity of in each case one or more proteins whose activity has not been reduced yet (SSIII, BEI or BEII).

For example, a reduction of the expression of one or more SSIII genes which occur endogenously in the plant cell and a reduction of the expression of one or more BEI genes which occur endogenously in the plant cell and a reduction of the expression of one or more BEII genes which occur endogenously in the plant cell and/or a reduction of the activity of in each case one or more of the abovementioned proteins which occur in the plant cell is observed in genetically modified plant cells according to the invention in comparison with plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “reduction of the activity” refers to a reduction of the expression of endogenous genes which encode SSIII, BEI and/or BEII proteins, and/or a reduction of the amount of SSIII, BEI and/or BEII protein in the cells and/or a reduction of the enzymatic activity of the SSIII, BEI and/or BEII proteins in the cells.

The reduction of the expression can be determined for example by measuring the amount of SSIII, BEI or BEII protein-encoding transcripts, for example by Northern blot analysis or RT-PCR. A reduction preferably means, in this context, a reduction of the amount of transcripts by at least 50%, in particular by at least 70%, preferably by at least 85% and especially preferably by at least 95% in comparison to corresponding cells which have not been genetically modified.

The reduction of the amount of SSIII, BEI and/or BEII proteins which results in a reduced activity of these proteins in the plant cells in question can be determined for example by immunological methods such as Western blot analysis, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) or RIA (radio-immune assay). In this context, a reduction preferably means a reduction of the amount of SSIII, BEI and/or BEII protein by at least 50%, in particular by at least 70%, preferably by at least 85% and especially preferably by at least 95% in comparison to corresponding cells which have not been genetically modified.

In connection with the present invention, SSIII protein is understood as meaning a class of soluble starch synthases (ADP-glucose-1,4-alpha-D-glucan-4-alpha-D-glucosyltransferase; EC 2.4.1.21). Soluble starch synthases catalyze a glycosylation reaction, in which glucose residues of the substrate ADP-glucose are transferred to alpha-1,4-linked glucan chains, with formation of an alpha-1,4 linkage (ADP glucose+{(1,4)-alpha-D-glucosyl}(N)<=>ADP+{(1,4)-alpha-D-glucosyl}(N+1)).

SSIII proteins are described, for example, by Marshall et al. (The Plant Cell 8; (1996); 1121-1135), Li et al. (2000, Plant Physiology 123, 613-624), Abel et al. (The Plant Journal 10(6); (1996); 981-991) and in WO 0066745. The structure of SSIII proteins frequently shows a sequence of domains. At the N terminus, SSIII proteins have a signal peptide for the transport into plastids. Towards the C terminus, this is followed by an N-terminal region, an SSIII-specific region and a catalytic domain (Li et al., 2000, Plant Physiology 123, 613-624). Further analyses which are based on primary sequence alignments (http://hits.isb-sib.ch/cgi-bin/PFSCAN), revealed that the potato SSIII protein has what is known as a carbohydrate binding domain (CBM). This domain (Pfam motiv cbm 25) comprises the amino acids 377 to 437 of the sequence of the potato SSIII protein shown in Seq ID No. 2. In connection with the present invention, an SSIII protein is therefore to be understood as meaning starch synthases which have at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, especially preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80% and in particular at least 90% identity with the sequence shown in Seq ID No. 3.

The term homology, or identity, is understood as meaning the number of agreeing amino acids (identity) with other proteins, expressed in percent. The identity is preferably determined by comparing the Seq. ID No. 3 with othen proteins with the aid of computer programmes. If sequences which are compared with each other are different in length, the identity is to be determined in such a way that the number of amino acids which the short sequence shares with the longer sequence determines the percentage identity. The identity can be determined routinely by means of known computer programmes which are publicly available such as, for example, ClustalW (Thompson et al., Nucleic Acids Research 22 (1994), 4673-4680). ClustalW is made publicly available by Julie Thompson (Thompson@EMBL-Heidelberg.DE) and Toby Gibson (Gibson@EMBL-Heidelberg.DE), European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, D 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. ClustalW can likewise be downloaded from various internet pages, inter alia the IGBMC (Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, B.P.163, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, France; ftp://ftp-igbmc.u-strasbg.fr/pub/) and the EBI (ftp://ftp.ebi.ac.uk/pub/software/) and all mirrored EBI internet pages (European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK).

If the ClustalW computer programme Version 1.8 is used to determine the identity between, for example, the reference protein of the present application and other proteins, the following parameters are to be set: KTUPLE=1, TOPDIAG=5, WINDOW=5, PAIRGAP=3, GAPOPEN=10, GAPEXTEND=0.05, GAPDIST=8, MAXDIV=40, MATRIX=GONNET, ENDGAPS(OFF), NOPGAP, NOHGAP.

One possibility of finding similar sequences is to carry out sequence database researches. Here, one or more sequences are entered as what is known as a query. This query sequence is then compared with sequences present in the selected databases using statistical computer programmes. Such database queries (blast searches) are known to the skilled worker and can be carried out at different suppliers. If, for example, such a database query is carried out at the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/), the standard settings for the respective comparison query should be used. For protein sequence comparisons (blastp), these settings are: Limit entrez=not activated; Filter=low complexity activated; Expect value=10; word size=3; Matrix=BLOSUM62; Gap costs: Existence=11, Extension=1. The result of such a query is, among other parameters, the degree of identity between the query sequence and the similar sequences found in the databases.

Thus, an SSIII protein is to be understood as meaning, in connection with the present invention, starch synthases which, when using at least one of the above-described methods for determining the identity with the sequence shown in Seq ID No. 3, have at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, especially preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80% and in particular at least 90% identity.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term SSIII gene is understood as meaning a nucleic acid molecule (DNA, cDNA, RNA) which encodes an SSIII protein, preferably from potato. Nucleic acid molecules encoding an SSIII protein have been described for a variety of plant species such as, for example, potato (Abel et al., The Plant Journal 10(6); (1996); 981-991), wheat (WO 00/66745, Li et al., 2000, Plant Physiology 123, 613-624; Genbank Acc. No AF258608; Genbank Acc. No AF258609), maize (Gao et al., 1998, Plant Cell 10 (3), 399-412; Genbank Acc. No AF023159), Vignia (Genbank Acc. No AJ225088), rice (Genbank Acc. No AY100469; Genbank Acc. No AF43291) and Arabidopsis (Genbank Acc. No AC007296).

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “branching enzyme” or “BE protein” (α-1,4glucan: α-1,4-glucan-6-glycosyltransferase, E.C. 2.4.1.18) is understood as meaning a protein which catalyzes a transglycosylation reaction in which α-1,4-linkages of an α-1,4-glucan donor are hydrolyzed and the α-1,4-glucan chains liberated in this process are transferred to an α-1,4-glucan acceptor chain, where they are converted into α-1,6 linkages.

The term “BEI protein” is to be understood as meaning, for the purposes of the present invention, an isoform I branching enzyme (branching enzyme=BE). The BEI protein is preferably derived from potato plants.

In this context, isoform terminology relies on the nomenclature proposed by Smith-White and Preiss (Smith-White and Preiss, Plant Mol Biol. Rep. 12, (1994), 67-71, Larsson et al., Plant Mol Biol. 37, (1998), 505-511). This nomenclature assumes that all enzymes which have a higher degree of homology (identity) at the amino acid level with the maize BEI protein (GenBank Acc. No. D11081; Baba et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 181 (1), (1991), 87-94; Kim et al. Gene 216, (1998), 233-243) than to the maize BEII protein (Genbank Acc. No AF072725, U65948) are referred to as isoform I branching enzymes, abbreviated to BEI proteins.

The term “BEII protein” is to be understood as meaning, for the purposes of the present invention, an isoform II branching enzyme (branching enzyme=BE). This enzyme preferably originates from potato plants. In connection with the present invention, all enzymes which, at the amino acid level, have a higher degree of homology (identity) with the maize BEII protein (Genbank Acc. No AF072725, U65948) than with the maize BEI protein (Genbank Acc. No. D 11081, AF 072724 ) shall be referred to as BEII protein.

The term “BEI gene” is understood as meaning, for the purposes of the present invention, a nucleic acid molecule (cDNA, DNA) which encodes a “BEI protein”, preferably a BEI protein from potato plants. Such nucleic acid molecules have been described for a large number of plants, for example for maize (Genbank Acc. No. D 11081, AF 072724), rice (Genbank Acc. No. D11082), pea (Genbank Acc. No. X80010) and potato. Various forms of the BEI gene, or the BEI protein, from potato have been described, for example, by Khoshnoodi et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 242 (1), 148-155 (1996), Genbank Acc. No. Y 08786 and by Kossmann et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 230, (1991), 39-44). In potato plants, the BEI gene is expressed predominantly in the tubers and to a very minor degree in the leaves (Larsson et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 37, (1998), 505-511).

The term “BEII gene” is to be understood as meaning, for the purposes of the present invention, a nucleic acid molecule (for example cDNA, DNA) which encodes a “BEII protein”, preferably a BEII protein from potato plants. Such nucleic acid molecules have been described for a large number of plants, for example for potato (GenBank Acc. No. AJ000004, AJ011888, AJ011889, AJ011885, AJ011890, EMBL GenBank A58164), maize (AF 072725, U65948), barley (AF064561), rice (D16201) and wheat (AF 286319). In potato plants, the BEII gene is expressed predominantly in the tubers and to a very minor degree in the leaves (Larsson et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 37, (1998), 505-511).

The term “transgenic” is to be understood as meaning, in the present context, that the genetic information of the plant cells according to the invention deviates from corresponding plant cells which have not been genetically modified owing to the introduction of a foreign nucleic acid molecule or several foreign nucleic acid molecules into the cell.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the genetic modification of the transgenic plant cell according to the invention consists in the introduction of one or more foreign nucleic acid molecules whose presence and/or expression leads to the reduction of the activity of SSIII and BEI and BEII proteins in comparison to corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified. Specifically, the term “genetic manipulation” is understood as meaning the introduction of homologous and/or heterologous nucleic acid molecules and/or foreign nucleic acid molecules which have been subjected to mutagenesis into a plant cell, where said introduction of these molecules leads to the reduction of the activity of an SSIII protein and/or a BEI protein and/or BEII protein.

The term “foreign nucleic acid molecule” or “of foreign nucleic acid molecules” is understood as meaning, for the purposes of the present invention, such a molecule which either does not occur naturally in the plant cells in question, or which does not naturally occur in the plant cells in the specific spatial arrangement, or which is localized at a site in the genome of the plant cell where it does not occur naturally. The foreign nucleic acid molecule is preferably a recombinant molecule which consists of various elements whose combination, or specific spatial arrangement, does not naturally occur in plant cells.

The foreign nucleic acid molecule(s) which is, or are, used for the genetic modification may take the form of a hybrid nucleic acid construct or of several separate nucleic acid constructs, in particular of what are known as single, dual and triple constructs. Thus, the foreign nucleic acid molecule may be, for example, what is known as a “triple construct”, which is understood as meaning one single vector for plant transformation which contains not only the genetic information for inhibiting the expression of one or more endogenous SSIII genes, but also the genetic information for inhibiting the expression of one or more BEI genes and of one or more BEII genes, or whose presence, or expression, leads to the reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII, BEI and BEII proteins.

In a further embodiment, the foreign nucleic acid molecule may be what is known as a “dual construct”, which is understood as meaning a vector for plant transformation which contains the genetic information for inhibiting the expression of two out of the three target genes (SSIII, BEI, BEII gene) or whose presence, or expression, leads to the reduction of the activity of two out of the three target proteins (SSIII, BEI, BEII proteins). The inhibition of the expression of the third target gene and/or the reduction of the activity of the third target protein is effected, in this embodiment of the invention, with the aid of a separate, foreign nucleic acid molecule which contains the relevant genetic information for inhibiting this third target gene.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is not a triple construct which is introduced into the genome of the plant cell, but several different foreign nucleic acid molecules are introduced, one of these foreign nucleic acid molecules being, for example, a DNA molecule which constitutes, for example, a cosuppression construct which brings about a reduction of the expression of one or more endogenous SSIII genes, and a further foreign nucleic acid molecule being a DNA molecule which encodes, for example, an antisense RNA which brings about a reduction of the expression of one or more endogenous BEI and/or BEII genes. When constructing the foreign nucleic acid molecules, however, the use of any combination of antisense, cosuppression, ribozyme and double-stranded RNA constructs or in-vivo mutagenesis which leads to a simultaneous reduction of the gene expression of endogenous genes encoding one or more SSIII, BEI and BEII proteins, or which leads to a simultaneous reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII, BEI and BEII proteins, is also suitable in principle.

The foreign nucleic acid molecules can be introduced into the genome of the plant cell either simultaneously (“cotransformation”) or else one after the other, i.e. in succession at different times (“supertransformation”).

The foreign nucleic acid molecules can also be introduced into different individual plants of one species. This may give rise to plants in which the activity of one target protein, or two target proteins, (BEI, BEII, SSIII) is reduced. Subsequent hybridizing may then give rise to plants in which the activity of all three of the target proteins is reduced.

Instead of a wild-type plant cell or plant, a mutant which is distinguished by already showing a reduced activity of one or more target proteins (BEI, BEII, SSIII) may further be used for introducing a foreign nucleic acid molecule or for generating the plant cells or plants according to the invention. The mutants may take the form of spontaneously occurring mutants or else of mutants which have been generated by the specific application of mutagens. Possibilities of generating such mutants have been described further above.

The plant cells according to the invention and their starch can be generated, or produced, by using what is known as insertion mutagenesis (review article: Thorneycroft et al., 2001, Journal of experimental Botany 52 (361), 1593-1601). Insertion mutagenesis is to be understood as meaning, in particular, the insertion of transposons or what is kown as transfer DNA (T-DNA) into a gene encoding a BEI protein and/or BEII protein and/or an SSIII protein, thus reducing the activity of said proteins in the cell in question.

The transposons may take the form of transposons which occur naturally in the cell (endogenous transposons) or else those which do not occur naturally in said cell but have been introduced into the cell by means of recombinant methods, such as, for example, by transforming the cell (heterologous transposons). Modifying the expression of genes by means of transposons is known to the skilled worker. A review of the utilization of endogenous and heterologous transposons as tools in plant biotechnology can be found in Ramachandran and Sundaresan (2001, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 39, 234-252). The possibility of identifying mutants in which specific genes have been inactivated by transposon insertion mutagenesis can be found in a review by Maes et al. (1999, Trends in Plant Science 4 (3), 90-96). The generation of rice mutants with the aid of endogenous transposons is described by Hirochika (2001, Current Opinion in Plant Biology 4, 118-122). The identification of maize genes with the aid of endogenous retrotransposons is shown, for example, in Hanley et al. (2000, The Plant Journal 22 (4), 557-566). The possibility of generating mutants with the aid of retrotransposons and methods for identifying mutants are described by Kumar and Hirochika (2001, Trends in Plant Science 6 (3), 127-134). The activity of heterologous transposons in different species has been described both for dicotyledonous and for monocotyledonous plants, for example for rice (Greco et al., 2001, Plant Physiology 125, 1175-1177; Liu et al., 1999, Molecular and General Genetics 262, 413-420; Hiroyuki et al., 1999, The Plant Journal 19 (5), 605-613; Jeon and Gynheung, 2001, Plant Science 161, 211-219), barley (2000, Koprek et al., The Plant Journal 24 (2), 253-263), Arabidopsis thaliana (Aarts et al., 1993, Nature 363, 715-717, Schmidt and Willmitzer, 1989, Molecular and General Genetics 220, 17-24; Altmann et al., 1992, Theoretical and Applied Gentics 84, 371-383; Tissier et al., 1999, The Plant Cell 11, 1841-1852), tomato (Belzile and Yoder, 1992, The Plant Journal 2 (2), 173-179) and potato (Frey et al., 1989, Molecular and General Genetics 217, 172-177; Knapp et al., 1988, Molecular and General Genetics 213, 285-290).

In principle, the plant cells and plants according to the invention, and the starch produced by them, can be generated, or produced, with the aid of both homologous and heterologous transposons, the use of homologous transposons also including those transposons which are already naturally present in the plant genome.

T-DNA insertion mutagenesis is based on the fact that certain segments (T-DNA) of Ti plasmids from Agrobacterium are capable of integrating into the genome of plant cells. The site of integration into the plant chromosome is not fixed but may take place at any position. If the T-DNA integrates in a segment of the chromosome which constitutes a gene function, this may lead to a modification of the gene expression and thus also to an altered activity of a protein encoded by the gene in question. In particular, the integration of a T-DNA into the coding region of a protein frequently means that the protein in question can no longer be synthesized in active form, or not at all, by the cell in question. The use of T-DNA insertions for the generation of mutants is described, for example, for Arabidopsis thaliana (Krysan et al., 1999, The Plant Cell 11, 2283-2290; Atipiroz-Leehan and Feldmann, 1997, Trends in genetics 13 (4), 152-156; Parinov and Sundaresan, 2000, Current Opinion in Biotechnology 11, 157-161) and rice (Jeon and An, 2001, Plant Science 161, 211-219; Jeon et al., 2000, The Plant Journal 22 (6), 561-570). Methods for identifying mutants which have been generated with the aid of T-DNA insertion mutagenesis are described, inter alia, by Young et al.,(2001, Plant Physiology 125, 513-518), Parinov et al. (1999, The Plant cell 11, 2263-2270), Thorneycroft et al. (2001, Journal of Experimental Botany 52, 1593-1601), and McKinney et al. (1995, The Plant Journal 8 (4),613-622).

In principle, T-DNA mutagenesis is suitable for generating the plant cells according to the invention and for producing the starch produced by them.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the presence and/or the expression of one or more foreign nucleic acid molecules leads to the inhibition of the expression of endogenous genes which encode SSIII proteins, BEI proteins and BEII proteins.

The plant cells according to the invention can be generated by various methods with which the skilled worker is familiar, for example by those which lead to an inhibition of the expression of endogenous genes encoding an SSIII, BEI or BEII protein. They include, for example, the expression of a corresponding antisense RNA or a double-stranded RNA construct, the provision of molecules or vectors which confer a cosuppression effect, the expression of a suitably constructed ribozyme which specifically cleaves transcripts encoding an SSIII, BEI or BEII protein, or what is known as “in-vivo mutagenesis”. Moreover, the reduction of the SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII activity in the plant cells may also be brought about by the simultaneous expression of sense and antisense RNA molecules of the specific target gene to be repressed, preferably the SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII gene. The skilled worker is familiar with these methods.

Moreover, it is known that the generation in planta of double-stranded RNA molecules of promoter sequences in trans can lead to methylation and transcriptional inactivation of homologous copies of this promoter (Mette et al., EMBO J. 19, (2000), 5194-5201).

Other methods for reducing the activity of proteins are described hereinbelow.

All of these methods are based on the introduction of one or more foreign nucleic acid molecules into the genome of plant cells.

To inhibit gene expression by means of antisense or cosuppression technology it is possible to use, for example, a DNA molecule which encompasses all of the sequence encoding an SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII protein including any flanking sequences which may be present, or else DNA molecules which only encompass parts of the coding sequence, which must be long enough in order to bring about an antisense effect, or cosuppression effect, in the cells. Sequences which are suitable generally have a minimum length of not less than 15 bp, preferably a length of 100-500 bp, and for effective antisense or cosuppression inhibition in particular sequences which have a length of over 500 bp.

Another possibility which is suitable for antisense or cosuppression approaches is the use of DNA sequences with a high degree of homology with the endogenous sequences which encode SSIII, BEI or BEII proteins and which occur endogenously in the plant cell. The minimum degree of homology should exceed approximately 65%. The use of sequences with homology levels of at least 90%, in particular between 95 and 100%, is to be preferred.

The use of introns, i.e. noncoding regions of genes, which encode SSIII, BEI and/or BEII proteins is also feasible for achieving an antisense or cosuppression effect.

The use of intron sequences for inhibiting the gene expression of genes which encode starch biosynthesis proteins has been described in the international patent applications WO97/04112, WO97/04113, WO98/37213, WO98/37214.

The skilled worker is familiar with methods for achieving an antisense and cosuppression effect. The cosuppression inhibition method has been described, for example, in Jorgensen (Trends Biotechnol. 8 (1990), 340-344), Niebel et al., (Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 197 (1995), 91-103), Flavell et al. (Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 197 (1995), 43-46), Palaqui and Vaucheret (Plant. Mol. Biol. 29 (1995), 149-159), Vaucheret et al., (Mol. Gen. Genet. 248 (1995), 311-317), de Borne et al. (Mol. Gen. Genet. 243 (1994), 613-621).

The expression of ribozymes for reducing the activity of specific enzymes in cells is also known to the skilled worker and described, for example, in EP-B1 0321201. The expression of ribozymes in plant cells has been described, for example, in Feyter et al. (Mol. Gen. Genet. 250, (1996), 329-338).

Moreover, the reduction of the SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII activity in the plant cells may also be achieved by what is known as “in-vivo mutagenesis”, where an RNA-DNA oligonucleotide hybrid (“chimeroplast”) is introduced into cells by means of transforming cells (Kipp, P. B. et al., Poster Session at the “5^(th) International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology, 21st-27th Sep. 1997, Singapore; R. A. Dixon and C. J. Arntzen, Meeting report on “Metabolic Engineering in Transgenic Plants”, Keystone Symposia, Copper Mountain, Colo., USA, TIBTECH 15, (1997), 441-447; International Patent Application WO 9515972; Kren et al., Hepatology 25, (1997), 1462-1468; Cole-Strauss et al., Science 273, (1996), 1386-1389; Beetham et al., 1999, PNAS 96, 8774-8778).

Part of the DNA component of the RNA-DNA oligonucleotide is homologous with a nucleic acid sequence of an endogenous SSIII, BEI and/or BEII gene, but contains a mutation in comparison with the nucleic acid sequence of an endogenous SSIII, BEI and/or BEII gene or contains a heterologous region which is surrounded by the homologous regions.

Owing to base pairing of the homologous regions of the RNA-DNA oligonucleotide and of the endogenous nucleic acid molecule, followed by homologous recombination, the mutation or heterologous region contained in the DNA component of the RNA-DNA oligonucleotide can be transferred into the genome of a plant cell. This leads to a reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII, BEI and/or BEII proteins.

Moreover, the reduction of the SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII activity in the plant cells may also be caused by the simultaneous expression of sense and antisense RNA molecules of the specific target gene to be repressed, preferably the SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII gene.

This may be achieved for example by the use of chimeric constructs which contain “inverted repeats” of the respective target gene or parts of the target gene. The chimeric constructs encode sense and antisense RNA molecules of the target gene in question. Sense and antisense RNA are synthesized simultaneously in planta as one RNA molecule, it being possible for sense and antisense RNA to be separated from each other by a spacer and to form a double-stranded RNA molecule.

It has been demonstrated that the introduction of inverted-repeat DNA constructs in the genome of plants is a highly effective method for repressing the genes corresponding to the inverted-repeat DNA constructs (Waterhouse et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, (1998), 13959-13964; Wang and Waterhouse, Plant Mol. Biol. 43, (2000), 67-82; Singh et al., Biochemical Society Transactions Vol. 28 part 6 (2000), 925-927; Liu et al., Biochemical Society Transactions Vol. 28 part 6 (2000), 927-929); Smith et al., (Nature 407, (2000), 319-320; International Patent Application WO99/53050 A1). Sense and antisense sequences of the target gene(s) may also be expressed separately from one another by means of identical or different promoters (Nap, J-P et al, 6^(th) International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology, Quebec, 18th-24th Jun., 2000; Poster S7-27, Session S7).

The reduction of the SSIII and/or the BEI and/or the BEII activity in the plant cells can thus also be achieved by generating double-stranded RNA molecules of SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII genes. To this end, it is preferred to introduce, into the genome of plants, inverted repeats of DNA molecules of SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII genes or cDNAs, the DNA molecules to be transcribed (SSIII, BEI or BEII gene or cDNA, or fragments of these genes or cDNAs) being under the control of a promoter which governs the expression of said DNA molecules.

Moreover, it is known that the formation of double-stranded RNA molecules of promoter DNA molecules in plants in trans can lead to methylation and transcriptional inactivation of homologous copies of these promoters, hereinbelow referred to as target promoters (Mette et al., EMBO J. 19, (2000), 5194-5201).

Thus, it is possible, via the inactivation of the target promoter, to reduce the gene expression of a specific target gene (for example SSIII, BEI or BEII gene) which is naturally under the control of this target promoter.

This means that the DNA molecules which encompass the target promoters of the genes to be repressed (target genes) are in this case—in contrast to the original function of promoters in plants—not used as control elements for the expression of genes or cDNAs, but as transcribable DNA molecules themselves.

To generate the double-stranded target promoter RNA molecules in planta, where they may be present in the form of RNA hairpin molecules, it is preferred to use constructs which contain inverted repeats of the target promoter DNA molecules, the target promoter DNA molecules being under the control of a promoter which governs the gene expression of said target promoter DNA molecules. These constructs are subsequently introduced into the genome of plants. Expression of the inverted repeats of said target promoter DNA molecules leads to the formation of double-stranded target promoter RNA molecules in planta (Mette et al., EMBO J. 19, (2000), 5194-5201). The target promoter can thus be inactivated.

The reduction of the SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII activity in the plant cells can thus also be achieved by generating double-stranded RNA molecules of promoter sequences of SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII genes. To this end, it is preferred to introduce, into the genome of plants, inverted repeats of promoter DNA molecules of SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII promoters, the target promoter DNA molecules to be transcribed (SSIII, BEI and/or BEII promoter) being under the control of a promoter which governs the expression of said target promoter DNA molecules.

The skilled worker furthermore knows to achieve the activity of one or more SSIII, BEI and/or BEII proteins by expressing nonfunctional derivatives, in particular trans-dominant mutants, of such proteins and/or by expressing antagonists/inhibitors of such proteins.

Antagonists/inhibitors of such proteins encompass for example antibodies, antibody fragments or molecules with similar binding characteristics. For example, a cytoplasmic scFv antibody was employed for modulating the activity of the phytochrome A protein in genetically modified tobacco plants (Owen, Bio/Technology 10 (1992), 790-4; Review: Franken, E, Teuschel, U. and Hain, R., Current Opinion in Biotechnology 8, (1997), 411-416; Whitelam, Trends Plant Sci. 1 (1996), 268-272).

Useful promoters for the expression of nucleic acids which reduce the activity of a target gene are, for example, the promoter of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA and the maize ubiquitin promoter for constitutive expression, the patatin gene promoter B33 (Rocha-Sosa et al., EMBO J. 8 (1989), 23-29), the MCPI promoter of the potato metallocarbopeptidase inhibitor gene (Hungarian Patent Application HU9801674) or the potato GBSSI promoter (international Patent Application WO 92/11376) for tuber-specific expression in potatoes, or a promoter which ensures expression uniquely in photosynthetically active tissues, for example the ST-LS1 promoter (Stockhaus et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84 (1987), 7943-7947; Stockhaus et al., EMBO J. 8 (1989), 2445-2451), the Ca/b promoter (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,496, U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,952, Bansal et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, (1992), 3654-3658) and the Rubisco SSU promoter (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,322, U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,028), or, for endosperm-specific expression, the glutelin promoter (Leisy et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 14, (1990), 41-50; Zheng et al., Plant J. 4, (1993), 357-366; Yoshihara et al., FEBS Lett. 383, (1996), 213-218), the Shrunken-1 promoter (Werr et al., EMBO J. 4, (1985), 1373-1380), the wheat HMG promoter, the USP promoter, the phaseolin promoter or promoters of zein genes from maize (Pedersen et al., Cell 29, (1982), 1015-1026; Quatroccio et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 15 (1990), 81-93).

The expression of the foreign nucleic acid molecule(s) is particularly advantageous in those plant organs which store starch. Examples of such organs are the tuber of the potato plant or the kernels, or endosperm, of maize, wheat or rice plants. This is why it is preferred to use promoters which confer expression in these organs.

However, it is also possible to use promoters which are activated only at a point in time determined by external factors (see, for example, WO 93/07279). Promoters which may be of particular interest in this context are promoters of heat-shock proteins, which permit simple induction. Others which can be [lacuna] are seed-specific promoters such as, for example, the Vicia faba USP promoter, which ensures seed-specific expression in Vicia faba and other plants (Fiedler et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 22, (1993), 669-679; Bäumlein et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 225, (1991), 459-467). Fruit-specific promoters such as, for example, those described in WO91/01373 may furthermore also be employed.

Another element which may be present is a termination sequence, which serves for the correct termination of transcription and for the addition of a poly-A tail to the transcript, which is believed to have a function in stabilizing the transcripts. Such elements are described in the literature (cf., for example, Gielen et al., EMBO J. 8 (1989), 23-29) and can be substituted as desired.

The transgenic plant cells according to the invention synthesize a modified starch whose physico-chemical properties, in particular the amylose content and the amylose/amylopectin ratio, the phosphorus content, the viscosity behaviour, the gel strength, the granule size and/or the granule morphology is modified in comparison with starch synthesized in wild-type plants so that it is better suited to specific uses.

The present invention therefore also relates to a genetically modified plant cell according to the invention, in particular to a transgenic plant cell which synthesizes a modified starch.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the starch composition in the plant cells according to the invention is modified in such a way that the amylose content amounts to at least 30% and the phosphate content is increased and the end viscosity in the RVA analysis is increased in comparison with starch from plant cells from corresponding wild-type plants, so that this starch is better suited to specific uses.

In particular the starches according to the invention have the advantage that they gelatinize completely under standard conditions despite the increased amylose content. This markedly improves the processability of the starch in comparison with other starches with an increased amylose content. An increased temperature or increased pressure is therefore not necessary for gelatinizing the starch according to the invention. This is why the use of specific apparatuses such as, for example, jet cookers, extruders or autoclaves can be dispensed with when breaking down these starches. Another advantage of the starches according to the invention is that, when subjected to processing with hot rollers, they may be applied to the latter in the form of a suspension. Other starches with an increased amylose content would gelatinize, when subjected to this type of processing, to a limited extent only, if at all, and would not be capable of being applied to the rollers in question in the form of a paste or film.

The starches according to the invention are particularly suitable for all applications where the thickening ability, the gelling characteristics or the binding characteristics of added substances are of importance. The starch according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for the production of foodstuffs such as, for example, baked goods, instant food, blancmange, soups, confectionery, chocolate, icecream, batter for fish or meat, frozen desserts or extruded snacks. Moreover, the starch according to the invention is suitable for the production of glues, for applications in textile processing, as additive to building materials, for applications in the field of animal nutrition, as additive for cosmetics, and in papermaking.

The starch which has been isolated from plant cells according to the invention is particularly suitable for the production of pregelatinized starch.

Pregelatinized starches are physically modified starches which are produced predominantly by wet-heat treatment. As opposed to native starch, they form dispersions/pastes or gels with cold water, depending on the concentration of the pregelatinized starch used and as a function of the starch type used for producing the pregelatinized starch. Owing to these characteristics, a series of possible applications exist for pregelatinized starches in the food industry and in addition in many fields of industry. The use of pregelatinized starch, also referred to as cold-swelling starch, instead of native starch frequently has the advantage that production processes can be simplified and shortened.

The production of, for example, instant desserts and instant blancmange requires pregelatinized starches which, after being stirred into cold fluid such as, for example, water or milk, form firm gels in a short time as is the case with, for example, a blancmange which requires boiling. These demands are not met by the commercial pregelatinized starches made with wheat starch, potato starch or corn starch. To obtain the abovementioned characteristics, additives to the pregelatinized starch such as gelatin, alginate, carrageenan and/or inorganic salts are required in the case of the pregelatinized starches which are currently commercially available. This addition of what are known as adjuvants is not required for example after the production of pregelatinized starches using starches according to the invention which are isolated from plant cells according to the invention.

The present invention also relates to a plant cell according to the invention with a modified starch with modified granule morphology.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term granule morphology is intended to refer to size and surface structure of native starch granules. Starch is stored in the storage organs such as, for example, tubers, roots, embryos or endosperm of plants, as a crystalline structure in granular form. Starch granules in which these granular structures are retained after the starch has been isolated from plant cells are referred to as native starch. The mean granule size (determined by the method described hereinbelow) of the native starch according o the invention is markedly lower than that of native starch isolated from wild-type plants. In the scanning electron micrograph (see FIGS. 4 and 5) it can be seen clearly that, surprisingly, native starch granules according to the invention have a rough surface with many pores. The surface structure of native starch granules isolated from wild-type plants, in contrast, is predominantly smooth in structure and no pores are discernible.

Both the presence of smaller granules and the rough surface with its pores lead to the fact that the surface area of starch granules according to the invention is considerably larger—at the same volume—than the surface area of starch granules isolated from wild-type plants. The starch according to the invention is therefore particularly suited to the use as carrier for, for example, flavourings, pharmacologically active substances, prebiotics, probiotic microorganisms, enzymes or colorants. These starches are also particularly suitable for coagulating substances and in papermaking.

A further possible application for the starches according to the invention is in the field of drilling for raw materials. Thus, when drilling for crude oil, adjuvants and/or lubricants must be employed which avoid overheating of the drill or drill column. Owing to its particular gelatinization properties, the starch according to the invention is therefore also particularly suited to the use in this field.

The present invention also relates to a plant cell according to the invention which contains a modified starch with an amylose content of at least 30% and which has an increased phosphate content and an increased final viscosity in the RVA analysis in comparison with starch from corresponding plant cells, from wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified.

In connection with the present inveniton, the amylose content is determined by the method of Hovenkamp-Hermelink et al. (Potato Research 31, (1988), 241-246) described further below for potato starch. This method may also be applied to isolated starches from other plant species. Methods for isolating starches are known to the skilled worker.

For the purposes of the present invention, “phosphate content” of the starch refers to the content of phosphate covalently bonded in the form of starch phosphate monoesters.

In connection with the present invention, the term “increased phosphate content” means that the total phosphate content of covalently bonded phosphate and/or the phosphate content in C-6 position of the starch synthesized in the plant cells according to the invention is increased, by preference by at least 270%, more preferably by at least 300%, especially preferably by at least 350% in comparison with starch from plant cells of corresponding wild-type plants.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “phosphate content in C6 position” is understood as meaning the content of phosphate groups which are bonded at the carbon atom position “6” of the glucose monomers of the starch. In principle, the positions C2, C3 and C6 of the glucose units can be phosphorylated in starch in vivo. In connection with the present invention, the determination of the phosphate content in C6 position (=C6-P content) can be carried out via the determination of glucose-6-phosphate by means of a visual-enzymatic test (Nielsen et al., Plant Physiol. 105, (1994), 111-117) (see below).

In connection with the present invention, the term “total phosphate content” of the starch refers to the content of phosphate bound covalently in C2, C3 and C6 position of the glucose units in the form of starch phosphate monoesters. The content of phosphorylated non-glucans such as, for example, phospholipids, does not come under the term “total phosphate content” in accordance with the invention. Phosphorylated non-glucans must therefore be removed quantitatively before determining the total phosphate content. Methods for separating the phosphorylated non-glucans (for example phospholipids) and the starch are known to the skilled worker. Methods for determining the total phosphate content are known to the skilled worker and described hereinbelow.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the plant cells according to the invention synthesize a starch which have a phosphate content of 40-120 nmol, in particular 60-110 nmol, preferably 80-100 C6-P per mg starch in C6 position of the glucose monomers of the starch.

A protocol for carrying out the RVA analysis is described further below. Mention must be made in particular that the RVA analysis of potato starches frequently operates with an 8% starch suspension (w/w). The documentation included with the apparatus “RVAsuper3” (instructions, Newport Scientific Pty Ltd., Investment Support Group, Warried NSW 2102, Australia) recommends a suspension containing approximately 10% of starch for the analysis of potato starch.

Surprisingly, it has been found in the case of the starch from potato plants in relation to the present invention, that it was not possible to use an 8% starch suspension (2 g of starch in 25 ml of water) for the analysis since the final viscosity achieved values beyond the range of the apparatus. This is why only 6% starch suspensions (1.5 g of starch in 25 ml of water) were employed for the RVA analysis instead of 8% starch suspensions. In connection with the present invention, “increased end viscosity in the RVA analysis” is therefore understood as meaning an increase by at least 150%, especially by at least 200%, in particular by at least 250%, in comparison with wild-type plants which have not been genetically modified. The increase of the end viscosities relates to 6% starch suspensions in this context.

In connection with the present invention, a potato starch is furthermore understood as meaning one with an at least 300 RVU, especially 400 RVU, in particular 500 RVU final viscosity in the RVA analysis with a 6% starch content. The determination of the RVU values will be discussed in detail hereinbelow.

In a further preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to plant cells according to the invention which synthesize a modified starch which, after gelatinization in water, forms a gel with an increased gel strength in comparison with a gel made with starch of corresponding wild-type plant cells which have not been genetically modified.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “increased gel strength” is understood as meaning an increase of the gel strength by preference by at least 300%, in particular by at least 500%, more preferably by at least 700% and especially preferably by at least 800%, up to a maximum of not more than 2000% or by not more than 1500% in comparison with the gel strength of starch from corresponding wild-type plant cells which have not been genetically modified.

In connection with the present invention, the gel strength shall be determined with the aid of a Texture Analyser under the conditions described hereinbelow.

To prepare starch gels, the crystalline structure of native starch must first be destroyed by heating in aqueous suspension with constant stirring. This was carried out with the aid of a Rapid Visco Analyser (Newport Scientific Pty Ltd., Investmet Support Group, Warriewod NSW 2102, Australia). As already mentioned further above, the 8% starch suspension was replaced by an only 6% starch suspension in the case of starch from potato plants since the final viscosities of the 8% suspensions were outside the operating range of the apparatus. To determine gel strength, the starch suspensions gelatinized in the Rapid Visco Analyser were stored over a certain period and then subjected to analysis using a Texture Analyser. Accordingly, 8% gelatinized starch suspensions were also replaced by 6% gelatinized starch suspensions for determining gel strength.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the modified starch synthesized in the plant cells according to the invention is distinguished not only by an increased amylose content in comparison with starch from corresponding wild-type plants and an increased phosphate content and an increased final viscosity in the RVA analysis, but also by a modified side chain distribution.

In a further embodiment, the present invention thus relates to plant cells according to the invention which synthesize a modified starch, the modified starch being characterized by a modified side chain distribution.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the term “modified side chain distribution” is understood as meaning a reduction of the amount of short side chains with a DP (=degree of polymerization) of 6 to 11 by at least 10%, preferably by at least 15%, in particular by at least 30% and especially preferably by at least 50% in comparison with the amount of short side chains with a DP of 6 to 11 of amylopectin from wild-type plants and/or an increase in the content of short side chains with a DP of 6 to 22 by at least 5%, preferably by at least 10%, in particular by at least 15% and especially preferably by at least 30% in comparison with the amount of short side chains with a DP of 16 to 22 of amylopectin from wild-type plants.

The amount of short side chains is determined via determining the percentage of a specific side chain in the total of all side chains. The total of all side chains is determined via determining the total area under the peaks which represent the degrees of polymerization of DP 6 to 26 in the HPLC chromatogram. The percentage of a particular side chain in the total of all side chains is determined via determining the ratio of the area under the peak which represents this side chain in the HPLC chromatogram to the total area. A programme which may be used for determining the peak areas is, for example, Chromelion 6.20 from Dionex, USA.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the modified starch synthesized in the plant cells according to the invention is distinguished not only by an increased amylose content in comparison with starch from corresponding wild-type plants and an increased phosphate content and an increased final viscosity in the RVA analysis, but also by a modified “side chain profile DP 12 to 18” and/or by a modified “side chain profile DP 19 to 24” and/or by a modified “side chain profile DP 25 to 30” and/or by a modified “side chain profile DP 37 to 42” and/or by a modified “side chain profile DP 62 to 123”.

In connection with the present invention, the term modified “side chain profile DP 12 to 18” is understood as meaning a reduction of the amount of amylopectin side chains with a DP of 12 to 18 by at least 25%, preferably by at least 35%, especially preferably by at least 45% and very especially preferably by at least 55% in comparison with the amount of amylopectin side chains with a DP of 12 to 18 from wild-type plants.

In connection with the present invention, the term modified “side chain profile DP 19 to 24” is understood as meaning a reduction of the amount of amylopectin side chains with a DP of 19 to 24 by at least 10%, preferably by at least 20% and especially preferably by at least 30% in comparison with the amount of amylopectin side chains with a DP of 19 to 24 from wild-type plants.

In connection with the present invention, the term modified “side chain profile DP 25 to 30” is understood as meaning a reduction of the amount of amylopectin side chains with a DP of 25 to 30 by at least 5% in comparison with the amount of amylopectin side chains with a DP of 25 to 30 from wild-type plants.

In connection with the present invention, the term modified “side chain profile DP 37 to 42” is understood as meaning an increase of the amount of amylopectin side chains with a DP of 37 to 42 by at least 5%, preferably by at least 10% and especially preferably by at least 15% in comparison with the amount of amylopectin side chains with a DP of 37 to 42 from wild-type plants.

In connection with the present invention, the term modified “side chain profile DP 62 to 123” is understood as meaning an increase of the amount of amylopectin side chains with a DP of 62 to 123 by at least 20%, preferably by at least 35%, especially preferably by at least 50% in comparison with the amount of amylopectin side chains with a DP of 62 to 123 from wild-type plants.

The side chain profile is determined via determining the percentage of a specific group of side chains in the total of all side chains in the GPC chromatogram. To this end, the total area under the line of the GPC chromatogram is divided into individual segments, each of which represents groups of side chains of different lengths. The chosen segments contain side chains with the following degree of polymerization (DP=number of glucose monomers within one side chain): DP≦11, DP12-18, DP19-24, DP25-30, DP31-36, DP37-42, DP43-48, DP49-55, DP56-61 and DP62-123. To correlate the elution volume with the molecular mass, the GPC column used is calibrated with dextran standards (Fluka, Product# 31430). The dextrans used, their associated molecular mass and the elution volumes are shown in FIG. 9. Using the resulting calibration graph, the elution diagram is shown as a molecular weight distribution. To determine the molecular weight of the individual side chains, a molecular weight of 162 was set for glucose. The total area under the line in the GPC chromatogram is set as 100% and the percentage of the areas of the individual segments is calculated based on the percentage of the total area.

In a further especially preferred embodiment, the amylopectin of starch according to the invention, from plant cells according to the invention or plants according to the invention, shows an increased amount of the amylopectin side chains with a DP of greater than 123 in comparison with the amount of side chains with a DP of greater than 123 from amylopectin of wild-type plants.

The plant cells according to the invention may be used for the regeneration of intact plants.

The plants obtainable by regeneration of the transgenic plant cells according to the invention are likewise subject-matter of the present invention.

The plant cells according to the invention may belong to any plant species, i.e. to both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. They are preferably plant cells of agriculturally useful plants, i.e. plants which are grown by man for the purposes of nutrition or for technical, in particular industrial, purposes. The invention preferably relates to fibre-forming plants (for example flax, hemp, cotton), oil-storing plants (for example oilseed rape, sunflower, soybean), sugar-storing plants (for example sugar beet, sugar cane, sugar millet) and protein-storing plants (for example legumes).

In a further preferred embodiment, the invention relates to fodder plants, in particular to fodder grasses and forage grasses (alfalfa, clover and the like) and vegetable plants (for example tomato, lettuce, chicory).

In a further preferred embodiment, the invention relates to plant cells from starch-storing plants (for example wheat, barley, oats, rye, potato, maize, rice, pea, cassava), with plant cells from potato being especially preferred.

A multiplicity of techniques are available for introducing DNA into a plant host cell. These techniques encompass the transformation of plant cells with T-DNA using Agrobacterium tumefaciens or Agrobacterium rhizogenes as transformation agent, the fusion of protoplasts, injection, the electroporation of DNA, the introduction of the DNA by means of the biolistic approach, and other possibilities.

The use of the agrobacteria-mediated transformation of plant cells has been studied intensively and described sufficiently in EP 120516; Hoekema, IN: The Binary Plant Vector System Offsetdrukkerij Kanters B. V., Alblasserdam (1985), Chapter V; Fraley et al., Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 4, 1-46 and in An et al. EMBO J. 4, (1985), 277-287. As regards the transformation of potato, see, for example, Rocha-Sosa et al., EMBO J. 8, (1989), 29-33.).

The transformation of monocotyledonous plants by means of vectors based on transformation with agrobacterium has also been described (Chan et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 22, (1993), 491-506; Hiei et al., Plant J. 6, (1994) 271-282; Deng et al, Science in China 33, (1990), 28-34; Wilmink et al., Plant Cell Reports 11, (1992), 76-80; May et al., Bio/Technology 13, (1995), 486-492; Conner and Domisse, Int. J. Plant Sci. 153 (1992), 550-555; Ritchie et al, Transgenic Res. 2, (1993), 252-265). An alternative system for the transformation of monocotyledonous plants is the transformation by means of the biolistic approach (Wan and Lemaux, Plant Physiol. 104, (1994), 37-48; Vasil et al., Bio/Technology 11 (1993), 1553-1558; Ritala et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 24, (1994), 317-325; Spencer et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 79, (1990), 625-631), protoplast transformation, the electroporation of partially permeabilized cells, the introduction of DNA by means of glass fibres. In particular the transformation of maize has been described repeatedly in the literature (cf., for example, WO95/06128, EP0513849, EP0465875, EP0292435; Fromm et al., Biotechnology 8, (1990), 833-844; Gordon-Kamm et al., Plant Cell 2, (1990), 603-618; Koziel et al., Biotechnology 11 (1993), 194-200; Moroc et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 80, (1990), 721-726).

The successful transformation of other cereal species has also been described, for example for barley (Wan and Lemaux, see above; Ritala et al., see above; Krens et al., Nature 296, (1982), 72-74) and wheat (Nehra et al., Plant J. 5, (1994), 285-297). All of the abovementioned methods are suitable for the purposes of the present invention.

Any promoter which is active in plant cells is generally suitable for the expression of the foreign nucleic acid molecule(s). The promoter may be chosen in such a way that expression in the plants according to the invention takes place constitutively or only in a specific tissue, at a particular point in time of plant development or at a point in time determined by external factors. As regards the plant, the promoter may be homologous or heterologous.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one antisense RNA is expressed in plant cells in order to reduce the activity of one or more SSIII proteins and/or BEI proteins and/or BEII proteins.

The present invention therefore also relates to a plant cell according to the invention, wherein said foreign nucleic acid molecules are selected from the group consisting of

-   -   a) DNA molecules encoding at least one antisense RNA which         brings about a reduction of the expression of at least one         endogenous gene encoding SSIII proteins and/or BEI proteins         and/or BEII proteins;     -   b) DNA molecules which, via a cosuppression effect, lead to a         reduction of the expression of at least one endogenous gene         encoding SSIII protein(s) and/or BEI protein(s) and/or BEII         protein(s);     -   c) DNA molecules encoding at least one ribozyme which         specifically cleaves transcripts of at least one endogenous gene         encoding SSIII proteins and/or BEI proteins and/or BEII         proteins; and     -   d) Nucleic acid molecules introduced by means of in-vivo         mutagenesis which lead to a mutation or insertion of a         heterologous sequence in at least one endogenous gene encoding         SSIII protein(s) and/or BEI protein(s) and/or BEII protein(s),         the mutation or insertion bringing about a reduction of the         expression of at least one gene encoding SSIII protein(s) and/or         BEI protein(s) and/or BEII protein(s), or the synthesis of         inactive SSIII and/or BEI and/or BEII proteins;     -   e) DNA molecules which simultaneously encode at least one         antisense RNA and at least one sense RNA, where said antisense         RNA and said sense RNA form a double-stranded RNA molecule which         brings about a reduction of the expression of at least one         endogenous gene encoding SSIII protein(s) and/or BEI protein(s)         and/or BEII protein(s);     -   f) DNA molecules containing transposons, the integration of the         transposon sequences leading to a mutation or an insertion in at         least one endogenous gene encoding SSIII protein(s) and/or BEI         protein(s) and/or BEII protein(s) which brings about a reduction         of the expression of at least one gene encoding an SSIII         protein(s) and/or BEI protein(s) and/or BEII protein(s), or         which results in the synthesis of inactive SSIII and/or BEI         and/or BEII proteins; and     -   g) T-DNA molecules which, owing to the insertion into at least         one endogenous gene encoding SSIII protein(s) and/or BEI         protein(s) and/or BEII protein(s), brings about a reduction of         the expression of at least one endogenous gene encoding SSIII         protein(s) and/or BEI protein(s) and/or BEII protein(s), or         which result in the synthesis of inactive SSIII and/or BEI         and/or BEII proteins.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to any kind of propagation material of plants according to the invention.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the nucleic acid molecules described herein for the generation of the plant cells and plants according to the invention.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one of the above nucleic acid molecules, where the at least one nucleic acid molecule, after introduction into a plant cell, leads to the reduction of at least one SSIII protein which occurs endogenously in the plant cell and at least one BEII protein which occurs endogenously in the plant cell and preferably furthermore to the reduction of at least one BEI protein which occurs endogenously in the plant cell. The composition may comprise one or more nucleic acid constructs (cf. above).

A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the compositions according to the invention for the generation of the plant cells and plants according to the invention, and to a host cell, in particular a plant cell, containing the composition according to the invention.

Yet a further aspect of the present invention relates to a transformation system in plant cells, comprising at least one nucleic acid molecule and at least one plant cell, where the at least one nucleic acid molecule leads to the reduction of the activity of in each case at least one of the SSIII, BEI and BEII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell unless the activity of these proteins has been reduced already by an existing genetic modification of said plant cell. For the purposes of the present invention, “transformation system” thus relates to a combination of at least one plant cell to be transformed and at least one nucleic acid molecule as described above which is used for the transformation. Further components with which the skilled worker in the field of the transformation of plant cells is familiar and which are required in the transformation process, including buffers and the like, may be present in the transformation system according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1:

A graphic representation of the viscosity characteristics of starch from potato plants. The analysis was carried out using a Rapid Visco Analyser (Newport Scientific Pty Ltd., Investmet Support Group, Warriewod NSW 2102, Australia). The conditions under which the analysis was carried out are described under RVA analytical method 1 in the chapter “General Methods”. The test starch was isolated from tubers of wild-type plants (WT), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII protein and of a BEI protein (038VL008 and 038VL107) or from plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII protein and a BEI protein and a BEII protein (110CF003 and 108CF041). The starch was isolated by the method described under “Examples”, “Starch extraction process for potatoes”.

FIG. 2:

A graphic representation of the viscosity characteristics of starch from potato plants. The analysis was carried out using a Rapid Visco Analyser (Newport Scientific Pty Ltd., Investmet Support Group, Warriewod NSW 2102, Australia). The conditions under which the analysis was carried out are described under RVA analytical method 2 in the chapter “General Methods”. The test starch was isolated from tubers of wild-type plants (WT), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII protein and of a BEI protein (038VL008 and 038VL107) or from plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII protein and a BEI protein and a BEII protein (110CF003 and 108CF041). The starch was isolated by the method described under “Examples”, “Starch extraction process for potatoes”.

FIG. 3:

A graphic representation of the viscosity characteristics of starch from potato plants. The analysis was carried out using a Rapid Visco Analyser (Newport Scientific Pty Ltd., Investmet Support Group, Warriewod NSW 2102, Australia). The conditions under which the analysis was carried out are described under RVA analytical method 3 in the chapter “General Methods”. The test starch was isolated from tubers of wild-type plants (WT), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII protein and of a BEI protein (038VL008 and 038VL107) or from plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII protein and a BEI protein and a BEII protein (110CF003 and 108CF041). The starch was isolated by the method described under “Examples”, “Starch extraction process for potatoes”.

FIG. 4:

Scanning-electron micrograph of a potato starch granule isolated from wild-type plants.

FIG. 5:

Scanning-electron micrograph of a potato starch granule isolated from plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII protein and of a BEI protein and of a BEII protein (110CF003).

FIG. 6:

Schematic representation of the vector pGSV71-α-BEII-basta, which was used for the retransformation of plants in which a reduced activity of an SSIII protein and of a BEI protein is already observed. (RB, left T-DNA border, LB, right T-DNA border; CaMV35, cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter; NOS, polyadenylation sequence of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline synthase gene; OCS, polyadenylation sequence of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens octopine synthase gene; B33, promoter of the potato patatin gene; BEII, coding sequences of the potato BEII gene; bar, sequence encoding a Streptomyces hygroscopicus phosphinothricin acetyltransferase).

FIG. 7:

Schematic representation of the vector pB33-α-BE-α-SSIII-Kan, which was used for the generation of transgenic plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII protein and a BEI protein (RB, left T-DNA border, LB, right T-DNA border; nos5′, promoter of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline synthase gene; nptII, gene encoding the activity of a neomycin phosphotransferase; nos3, polyadenylation sequence of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens nopaline synthase gene; OCS, polyadenylation sequence of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens octopine synthase gene; B33, promoter of the potato patatin gene; BE, coding sequences of the potato BEI gene; SSIII, coding sequences of the potato SSIII gene).

FIG. 8

The figure shows the entire elution diagram of the amylopectin from starches of lines 038VL008, 108CF041 and wild type. As shown in the figure, the amount of bigger side chains in line 108CF041 is markedly higher in contrast to the background 038VL008 and/or the corresponding wild type.

FIG. 9

Calibration curve and table with corresponding dextran standards

FIG. 10

The figure shows the entire elution diagram of the amylopectin from starches of lines 038VL008, 108CF041 and wild type. In contrast to FIG. 8, the x axis does not show the elution volume, but the molecular weight. The elution diagram of FIG. 8 as a function of the molecular weight distribution is shown with the aid of the calibration graph of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11

This represents the side chain profile distribution of the amylopectin from plants of line 038VL008 in comparison with the side chain profile of amylopectin from wild-type plants.

FIG. 12

This represents the side chain profile distribution of the amylopectin from plants of line 108CF041 in comparison with the side chain profile of amylopectin from wild-type plants.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCES

Seq ID 1:

Nucleic acid sequence of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) starch synthase SSIII with indication of the sequences which encode the corresponding SSIII protein.

Seq ID 2:

Amino acid sequence of a potato SSIII protein.

Seq ID 3:

Amino acid sequence of the Pfam cbm25 binding domain of the potato SSIII protein (Solanum tuberosum).

Seq ID 4:

Coding nucleic acid sequence of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) branching enzyme BEI.

Seq ID 5:

Amino acid sequence of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) branching enzyme BEI.

Seq ID 6:

Coding nucleic acid sequence of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) branching enzyme BEII.

Seq ID 7:

Amino acid sequence of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) branching enzyme BEII.

Seq ID 8:

PCR-amplified nucleic acid sequence of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) branching enzyme BEII.

General Methods

The following methods were used in the examples:

Starch Analysis

a) Determination of the amylose content and of the amylose/amylopectin ratio

Starch was isolated from potato plants by standard methods, and the amylose content and the amylose:amylopectin ratio was determined by the method described by Hovenkamp-Hermelink et al. (Potato Research 31, (1988), 241-246).

b) Determination of the phosphate content

In starch, the positions C2, C3 and C6 of the glucose units can be phosphorylated. To determine the C6-P content of starch, 50 mg of starch are hydrolysed for 4 h at 95° C. in 500 μl of 0.7 M HCl. The samples are then centrifuged for 10 minutes at 15 500 g and the supernatants are removed. 7 μl of the supernatants are mixed with 193 μl of imidazole buffer (100 mM imidazole, pH 7.4; 5 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM EDTA and 0.4 mM NAD). The measurement was carried out in a photometer at 340 nm. After the base absorption had been established, the enzyme reaction was started by addition of 2 units glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (from Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Boehringer Mannheim). The change in absorption is directly proportional to the concentration of the G-6-P content of the starch.

The total phosphate content was determined by the method of Ames (Methods in Enzymology VIII, (1966), 115-118).

Approximately 50 mg of starch are treated with 30 μl of ethanolic magnesium nitrate solution and ashed for 3 hours at 500° C. in a muffle oven. The residue is treated with 300 μl of 0.5 M hydrochloric acid and incubated for 30 minutes at 60° C. One aliquot is subsequently made up to 300 μl 0.5 M hydrochloric acid and this is added to a mixture of 100 μl of 10% ascorbic acid and 600 μl of 0.42% ammonium molybdate in 2 M sulphuric acid and incubated for 20 minutes at 45° C.

This is followed by a photometric determination at 820 nm with a phosphate calibration series as standard.

c) Determination of the gel strength (Texture Analyser)

1.5 g of starch (DM) are gelatinized in the RVA apparatus in 25 ml of an aqueous suspension (temperature programme: see item d) “Determination of the viscosity characteristics by means of a Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA)”) and subsequently stored for 24 hours at room temperature in a sealed container. The samples are fixed under the probe (round piston with planar surface) of a Texture Analyser TA-XT2 from Stable Micro Systems (Surrey, UK) and the gel strength was determined using the following parameters: Test speed 0.5 mm/s Depth of penetration 7 mm Contact surface 113 mm² Pressure 2 g

d) Determination of the viscosity characteristics by means of a Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA)

Standard Method

2 g of starch (DM) are taken up in 25 ml of H₂O (VE-type water, conductivity of at least 15 mega ohm) and used for the analysis in a Rapid Visco Analyser (Newport Scientific Pty Ltd., Investmet Support Group, Warriewod NSW 2102, Australia). The apparatus is operated following the manufacturer's instructions. The viscosity values are indicated in RVUs in accordance with the manufacturer's operating manual, which is incorporated into the description herewith by reference. To determine the viscosity of the aqueous starch solution, the starch suspension is first heated for one minute at 50° C. (step 1), and then heated from 50° C. to 95° C. at a rate of 12° C. per minute (step 2). The temperature is then held for 2.5 minutes at 95° C. (step 3). Then, the solution is cooled from 95° C. to 50° C. at a rate of 12° C. per minute (step 4). The viscosity is determined during the entire duration.

In particular in those cases where the limits of the measuring range of the RVA were insufficient when 2.0 g (DM) of starch in 25 ml of H₂O (VE-type water, conductivity of at least 15 mega ohm) were weighed in, only 1.5 g of starch (DM) were taken up in 25 ml of H₂O (VE-type water, conductivity of at least 15 mega ohm).

For reasons of comparison with the prior art, a modified temperature profile was additionally used in some cases.

The following temperature profiles were used:

RVA analytical method 1:

To determine the viscosity of a 6% aqueous starch solution, the starch suspension is first stirred for 10 seconds at 960 rpm and subsequently heated at 50° C. at a stirring speed of 160 rpm, initially for a minute (step 1). The temperature was then raised from 50° C. to 95° C. at a heating rate of 12° C. per minute (step 2). The temperature is held for 2.5 minutes at 95° C. (step 3) and then cooled from 95° C. to 50° C. at 12° C. per minute (step 4). In the last step (step 5), the temperature of 50° C. is held for 2 minutes.

After the programme has ended, the stirrer is removed and the beaker covered. The gelatinized starch is now available for the texture analysis after 24 hours.

RVA analytical method 2:

To determine the viscosity of a 6% aqueous starch solution, the starch suspension is first stirred for 10 seconds at 960 rpm and subsequently heated at 50° C. at a stirring speed of 160 rpm, initially for two minutes (step 1). The temperature was then raised from 50° C. to 95° C. at a heating rate of 1.5° C. per minute (step 2). The temperature is held for 15 minutes at 95° C. (step 3) and then cooled from 95° C. to 50° C. at 1.5° C. per minute (step 4). In the last step (step 5), the temperature of 50° C. is held for 15 minutes.

After the programme has ended, the stirrer is removed and the beaker covered. The gelatinized starch is now available for the texture analysis after 24 hours.

RVA analytical method 3:

To determine the viscosity of a 10% aqueous starch solution, the starch suspension is first stirred for 10 seconds at 960 rpm and subsequently heated at 50° C. at a stirring speed of 160 rpm, initially for two minutes (step 1). The temperature was then raised from 50° C. to 95° C. at a heating rate of 1.5° C. per minute (step 2). The temperature is held for 15 minutes at 95° C. (step 3) and then cooled from 95° C. to 50° C. at 1.5° C. per minute (step 4). In the last step (step 5), the temperature of 50° C. is held for 15 minutes. This profile of the RVA analysis corresponds to the one employed in WO 9634968.

After the programme has ended, the stirrer is removed and the beaker covered. The gelatinized starch is now available for the texture analysis after 24 hours.

The profile of the RVA analysis contains parameters which are shown for the comparison of different measurements and substances. In the context of the present invention, the following terms are to be understood as follows:

1. Maximum viscosity (RVA Max)

The maximum viscosity is understood as meaning the highest viscosity value, measured in RVUs, obtained in step 2 or 3 of the temperature profile.

2. Minimum viscosity (RVA Min)

The minimum viscosity is understood as meaning the lowest viscosity value, measured in RVUs, observed in the temperature profile after the maximum viscosity. Normally, this takes place in step 3 of the temperature profile.

3. Final viscosity (RVA Fin)

The final viscosity is understood as meaning the viscosity value, measured in RVUs, observed at the end of the measurement.

4. Setback (RVA Set)

What is known as the “setback” is calculated by subtracting the value of the final viscosity from that of the minimum occurring after the maximum viscosity in the curve.

5. Gelatinization temperature (RVA T)

The gelatinization temperature is understood as meaning the point in time of the temperature profile where, for the first time, the viscosity increases drastically for a brief period.

e) Analysis of the side-chain distribution of the amylopectin by means of ion-exchange chromatography

To separate amylose and amylopectin, 200 mg of starch are dissolved in 50 ml reaction vessels, using 12 ml of 90% (v/v) DMSO in H₂O. After addition of 3 volumes of ethanol, the precipitate is separated by centrifugation for 10 minutes at about 1800 g at room temperature (RT). The pellet is then washed with 30 ml of ethanol, dried and dissolved in 40 ml of 1% (w/v) NaCl solution at 75° C. After the solution has cooled to 30° C., approximately 90 mg of thymol are added slowly, and this solution is incubated for at least 60 h at 30° C. The solution is then centrifuged for 30 minutes at 2000 g (RT). The supernatant is then treated with 3 volumes of ethanol, and the amylopectin which settles out is separated by centrifugation for 5 minutes at 2000 g (RT). The pellet (amylopectin) is then washed with ethanol and dried using acetone. By addition of DMSO to the pellet, one obtains a 1% solution, of which 200 μl are treated with 345 μl of water, 10 μl of 0.5 M sodium acetate (pH 3.5) and 5 μl of isoamylase (dilution 1:10; Megazyme) and incubated for about 16 hours at 37° C. A 1:5 aqueous dilution of this digest is subsequently filtered through a 0.2 μm filter, and 100 μl of the filtrate are analysed by ion chromatography (HPAEC-PAD, Dionex). Separation was performed using a PA-100 column (with suitable precolumn), while detection was performed amperometrically. The elution conditions were as follows: TABLE 1 Composition of the elution buffer for the side chain analysis of the amylopectin at different times during the HPEAC-PAD Dionex analysis. Between the times stated, the composition of the elution buffer changes in each case linearly. t (min) Solution A (%) Solution B (%)  5 0 100 35 30 70 45 32 68 60 100 0 70 100 0 72 0 100 80 0 100 Stop Solution A - 0.15M NaOH Solution B - 1 M sodium acetate in 0.15M NaOH

The determination of the relative amount of short side chains in the total of all side chains is carried out via the determination of the percentage of a particular side chain in the total of all side chains. The total of all side chains is determined via the determination of the total area under the peaks which represent the polymerization degrees of DP6 to 26 in the HPCL chromatogram.

The percentage of a particular side chain in the total of all side chains is determined via the determination of the ratio of the area under the peak which represents this side chain in the HPLC chromatogram to the total area. The programme Chromelion 6.20 Version 6.20 from Dionex, USA, was used for determining the peak areas.

f) Granule size determination

Starch was extracted from potato tubers by standard methods (see Examples).

The granule size determination was then carried out using a photosedimentometer of type “Lumosed FS1” from Retsch GmbH, Germany, using the software V.2.3. The software settings were as follows: Substance data: Calibration No. 0 Density [kg/m³] 1500 Sedimentation fluid: Type Water Viscosity [Pa s] 0.001 Density [kg/m³] 1000 Addition — Recordings 5 min Cut-off [μm] 250 Passage [%] 100 Measuring range 4.34-117.39 μm Calibration N Temperature 20° C.

The granule size distribution was determined in aqueous solution and was carried out following the manufacturer's instructions and on the basis of the literature by, for example, H. Pitsch, Korngröβenbestimmung [granule size determination]; LABO-1988/3 Fachzeitschrift für Labortechnik, Darmstadt.

g) Scanning electron micrographs (SEM)

To study the surface of the starch samples, the latter were dusted onto the sample holder using a conductive adhesive. To avoid charging, the sample holders were finally sputtered with a 4 nm Pt coating. The starch samples were studied using the field emission scanning electron microscope JSM 6330 F (Jeol) at an accelerating voltage of 5 kV.

h) Determination of the activity of the SSIII, BEI and BEII proteins

These were carried out as specified in the examples.

EXAMPLES Generation of the Expression Vector ME5/6

pGSV71 is a derivative of the plasmid pGSV7, which is derived from the intermediary vector pGSV1. pGSV1 is a derivative of pGSC1700, whose construction has been described by Cornelissen and Vanderwiele (Nucleic Acid Research 17, (1989), 19-25). pGSV1 was obtained from pGSC1700 by deleting the carbenicillin resistance gene and deleting the T-DNA sequences of the TL-DNA region of the plasmid pTiB6S3.

pGSV7 contains the replication origin of the plasmid pBR322 (Bolivar et al., Gene 2, (1977), 95-113) and the replication origin of the Pseudomonas plasmid pVS1 (Itoh et al., Plasmid 11, (1984), 206). pGSV7 additionally contains the selectable marker gene aadA, from the Klebsiella pneumoniae transposon Tn1331, which confers resistance to the antibiotics spectinomycin and streptomycin (Tolmasky, Plasmid 24 (3), (1990), 218-226; Tolmasky and Crosa, Plasmid 29(1), (1993), 31-40)

The plasmid pGSV71 was obtained by cloning a chimeric bar gene between the border regions of pGSV7. The chimeric bar gene contains the cauliflower mosaic virus promoter sequence for transcriptional initiation (Odell et al., Nature 313, (1985), 180), the Streptomyces hygroscopicus bar gene (Thompson et al., Embo J. 6, (1987), 2519-2523) and the 3′-untranslated region of the pTiT37 T-DNA nopalin synthase gene for transcriptional termination and for polyadenylation. The bar gene confers tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium.

The T-DNA contains the right border sequence of the TL-DNA from the plasmid pTiB6S3 (Gielen et al., EMBO J. 3, (1984), 835-846) at position 198-222. A polylinker sequence is located between nucleotide 223-249. The nucleotides 250-1634 contain the cauliflower mosaic virus p35S3 promoter region (Odell et al., see above). The coding sequence of the Streptomyces hygroscopicus phosphinothricin resistance gene (bar) (Thompson et al. 1987, see above) is arranged between the nucleotides 1635-2186. The two terminal codons at the 5′ end of the bar wild-type gene were replaced by the codons ATG and GAC. A polylinker sequence is located between the nucleotides 2187-2205. The 260 bp TaqI fragment of the untranslated 3′ end of the nopalin synthase gene (3′nos) from the T-DNA of the plasmid pTiT37 (Depicker et al., J. Mol. Appl. Genet. 1, (1982), 561-573) is located between the nucleotides 2206 and 2465. The nucleotides 2466-2519 contain a polylinker sequence. The left border sequence of the pTiB6S3 TL-DNA (Gielen et al., EMBO J. 3, (1984), 835-846) is located between the nucleotides 2520-2544.

The vector pGSV71 was then cut using the enzyme PstI and made blunt-ended. The B33 promoter and the ocs cassette was then excised from the vector pB33-Kan in the form of an EcoRI-HindIII fragment, made blunt-ended and inserted into the vector pGSV71 which had been cut with PstI and made blunt-ended. The resulting vector was used as starting vector for the construction of ME5/6: An oligonucleotide containing the cleavage sites EcoRI, PacI, SpeI, SrfI, SpeI, NotI, PacI and EcoRI was introduced into the PstI cleavage site of the vector ME4/6 located between the B33 promoter and the ocs element, duplicating the PstI cleavage site. The resulting expression vector was termed ME5/6.

Description of the Vector pSK-Pac:

pSK-Pac is a derivative of pSK-Bluescript (Stratagene, USA) in which a PacI cleavage site was introduced at each flank of the multiple cloning site (MCS).

Generation of Transgenic Potato Plants with a Reduced Gene Expression of a BEI, SSIII and BEII Gene

To generate transgenic plants with a reduced activity of a BEI, an SSIII and a BEII protein, transgenic plants with a reduced activity of a BEI and an SSIII protein were generated in a first step. To this end, the T-DNA of the plasmid pB33-αBEI-αSSIII-Kan was transferred into potato plants with the aid of agrobacteria as described by Rocha-Sosa et al. (EMBO J. 8, (1989), 23-29).

To construct the plasmid pB33-αBEI-αSSIII-Kan (see FIG. 7), the expression vector pBin33-Kan was constructed in a first step. To this end, the promoter of the Solanum tuberosum patatin gene B33 (Rocha-Sosa et al., 1989, see above) was ligated in the form of a DraI fragment (nucleotides −1512-+14) into the SstI-cut vector pUC19 (Genbank Acc. No. M77789), whose ends have been made blunt-ended with the aid of T4 DNA polymerase. This gave rise to the plasmid pUC19-B33. The B33 promoter was excised from this plasmid using EcoRI and SmaI and ligated into the suitably cut vector pBinAR. This gave rise to the plant expression vector pBin33-Kan. The plasmid pBinAR is a derivative of the vector plasmid pBin19 (Bevan, Nucl. Acid Research 12, (1984), 8711-8721) and was constructed by Höfgen and Willmitzer (Plant Sci. 66, (1990), 221-230). A 1631 bp HindII fragment which contains a partial cDNA encoding the potato BEI enzyme (Kossmann et al., 1991, Mol. & Gen. Genetics 230(1-2):39-44) was then made blunt-ended and introduced into the vector pBin33, which had previously been cut with SmaI, in antisense orientation with regard to the B33 promoter (promoter of the Solanum tuberosum patatin gene B33; Rocha-Sosa et al., 1989). The resulting plasmid was cut open using BamHI. A 1363 bp BamHI fragment containing a partial cDNA encoding the potato SSIII enzyme (Abel et al., 1996, loc.cit.) was introduced into the cleavage site, again in antisense orientation with regard to the B33 promoter.

After the transformation, various lines of transgenic potato plants in whose tubers a markedly reduced activity of a BEI and SSIII protein was observed were identified. The plants resulting from this transformation were termed 038VL.

To detect the activity of soluble starch synthases (SSIII) by non-denaturing gel electrophoresis, tissue samples of potato tubers were digested in 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 2 mM DTT, 2.5 mM EDTA, 10% glycerol and 0.4 mM PMSF. The electrophoresis was carried out in a MiniProtean II chamber (BioRAD). The monomer concentration of the gels, which had a thickness of 1.5 mm, amounted to 7.5% (w/v), and 25 mM Tris-Glycin pH 8.4 acted as the gel and the running buffers. Identical amounts of protein extract were applied and separated for 2 h at 10 mA for each gel.

The activity gels were subsequently incubated in 50 mM Tricine-NaOH pH 8.5, 25 mM potassium acetate, 2 mM EDTA, 2 mM DTT, 1 mM ADP-glucose, 0.1% (w/v) amylopectin and 0.5 M sodium citrate. Glucans formed were stained with Lugol's solution.

The BEI activity was likewise detected with the aid of non-denaturing gel electrophoresis:

To isolate proteins from plants, the sample material was comminuted in liquid nitrogen using a pestle and mortar, taken up in extraction buffer (50 mM sodium citrate, pH 6.5; 1 mM EDTA, 4 mM DTT), centrifuged (10 min, 14,000 g, 4° C.) and then employed directly in the protein concentration measurement following the method of Bradford. Then, 5 to 20 μg of total protein extract (as required) were treated with 4× loading buffer (20% glycerol, 125 mM Tris HCl, pH 6.8) and applied to a BE activity gel. The running buffer (RB) was composed as follows: RB=30.2 g Tris-base, pH 8.0, 144 g glycine per 1 l H₂O.

After running of the gel had ended, each of the gels was incubated overnight at 37° C. in 25 ml of “phosphorylase buffer” (25 ml 1M sodium citrate pH 7.0, 0.47 g glucose-1-phosphate, 12.5 mg AMP, 2.5 mg phosphorylase a/b from rabbit). The gels were stained using Lugol's solution.

More in-depth analyses demonstrated that isolated starches from lines 038VL008 and 038VL107, in which both the BEI and the SSIII protein were reduced, showed the highest phosphate content of all independent transformants studied.

Plants of these lines were subsequently transformed with the plasmid pGSV71-αBEII-basta as described by Rocha-Sosa et al. (EMBO J. 8, (1989), 23-29).

Plasmid pGSV71-αBEII-basta was constructed by screening a tuber-specific potato cDNA library with a DNA fragment amplified using RT-PCR (Primer: 5′-gggggtgttggctttgacta and 5′-cccttctcctcctaatccca; Stratagene ProSTAR™ HF Single-Tube RT-PCR system) with total RNA from tubers as template, following standard methods. In this manner, an approximately 1250 bp DNA fragment (SEQ ID No. 8) was isolated and then subcloned into the EcoRV cleavage site of the cloning vector pSK-Pac (see hereinabove) in the form of an EcoRV-SmaI fragment and subsequently ligated into the expression vector ME5/6 in antisense orientation relative to the promoter in the form of a PacI fragment. This gave rise to the plasmid pGSV71-αBEII-basta (see FIG. 6).

Tuber tissue samples of the independent transformants were obtained from the plants obtained by transformation with the plasmid pGSV71-αBEII-basta, which were referred to as 108CF and 110CF, and their amylose content was determined (see Methods). The starches from the independent lines whose tubers had the highest amylose content were used for a further analysis of the starch characteristics. To prove that in these plants not only the activity of a BEI and SSIII protein is reduced, but also that the activity of a BEII protein is reduced, another analysis was carried out with the aid of non-denaturing gel electrophoresis. The analysis was carried out following the same method as already carried out above for the analysis of the reducing BEI activity, with the exception that the non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel contained 0.5% of maltodextrin (Beba, 15% strength maltodextrin solution for newborns, Nestle) in addition to the above-described composition. The dextrin addition made it possible to show the different activities of the BEI and BEII proteins after incubation of the gels in “phosphorylase buffer” (25 ml 1M sodium citrate pH 7.0, 0.47 g glucose-1-phosphate, 12.5 mg AMP, 2.5 mg phosphorylase a/b from rabbit) overnight at 37° C., followed by staining with Lugol's solution in a gel.

Potato Starch Extraction Process

All tubers of one line (4 to 5 kg) are processed jointly in a commercially available juice extractor (Multipress automatic MP80, Braun). The starch-containing fruit water is collected in a 10-l bucket (ratio bucket height: bucket diameter=approx. 1.1) containing 200 ml of tap water together with a spoon-tipful (approx. 3-4 g) of sodium disulphite. The bucket is subsequently filled completely with tap water. After the starch has been allowed to settle for 2 hours, the supernatant is decanted off, the starch is resuspended in 10 l of tap water and poured over a sieve with a mesh size of 125 μm. After 2 hours (starch has again settled at the bottom of the bucket), the aqueous supernatant is again decanted off. This wash step is repeated 3 more times so that the starch is resuspended a total of 5 times in fresh tap water. Thereafter, the starches are dried at 37° C. to a water content of 12-17% and homogenized using a pestle and mortar. The starches are now available for analyses.

Example 2 Analysis of the Starch from Plants with Reduced BEI, SSIII and BEII Gene Expression

The starch from various independent lines of the transformations 108CF and 110CF described in Example 1 were isolated from potato tubers. The physico-chemical properties of this starch were subsequently analysed. The results of the characterization of the modified starches are shown in Table 2 (Tab. 2) for an example of a selection of certain plant lines. The analyses were carried out by the methods described hereinabove.

Tables 2, 3 and 4 which follow summarize the results of the RVA analysis based on starch from wild-type plants: TABLE 2 Parameters of the RVA analysis of starch isolated from wild-type plants (cv. Desiree), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and a BEI protein (038VL008, 038VL107), and of plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and of a BEI and of a BEII protein (108CF041, 110CF003) in per cent based on data of starch of the wild type. The RVA analysis was carried out as described in Analytical method 1. RVA analytical method 1 RVA Max RVA RVA RVA RVA Gel (%) Min (%) Fin (%) Set (%) T (%) strength cv. Desiree 100 100 100 100 100 100 038VL008 158.7 69.8 72.0 79.5 73.0 55.4 108CF041 59.6 89.9 227.5 693.7 150.2 532.3 038VL107 151.1 94.3 94.0 93.0 82.2 52.2 110CF003 106.4 158.6 265.0 625.7 151.5 737.1

TABLE 3 Parameters of the RVA analysis of starch isolated from wild-type plants (cv. Desiree), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and a BEI protein (038VL008, 038VL107), and of plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and of a BEI and of a BEII protein (108CF041, 110CF003) in per cent based on data of starch of the wild type. The RVA analysis was carried out as described in Analytical method 2. RVA analytical method 2 RVA Max RVA RVA RVA RVA Gel (%) Min (%) Fin (%) Set (%) T (%) strength cv. Desiree 100 100 100 100 100 100 038VL008 167.1 40.4 52.6 77.6 54.2 63.0 108CF041 44.5 82.5 187.5 402.7 137.4 412.2 038VL107 152.0 76.1 81.9 93.8 76.9 51.7 110CF003 92.4 172.2 n.d. n.d. 139.0 795.0

TABLE 4 Parameters of the RVA analysis of starch isolated from wild-type plants (cv. Desiree), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and a BEI protein (038VL008, 038VL107), and of plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and of a BEI and of a BEII protein (108CF041, 110CF003) in per cent based on data of starch of the wild type. The RVA analysis was carried out as described in Analytical method 3. RVA analytical method 3 RVA Max RVA RVA RVA RVA Gel (%) Min (%) Fin (%) Set (%) T (%) strength cv. Desiree 100 100 100 100 100 100 038VL008 n.d. 50.2 76.5 127.8 77.0 100.5 108CF041 74.7 291.0 n.d. 205.7 236.0 630.3 038VL107 n.d. 84.5 86.4 90.1 102.3 58.1 110CF003 89.8 259.7 n.d. n.d. 196.6 663.9

The following tables 5, 6 and 7 summarize the results of the RVA analysis. The data do not refer to the wild type, but are the actual measurements: TABLE 5 Parameters of the RVA analysis of starch isolated from wild-type plants (cv. Desiree), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and a BEI protein (038VL008, 038VL107), and of plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and of a BEI and of a BEII protein (108CF041, 110CF003) in RVUs. The RVA analysis was carried out as described in Analytical method 1. RVA analytical method 1 (see also FIG. 1) RVA RVA RVA Max Min Fin RVA Set RVA T Gel (RVU) (RVU) (RVU) (RVU) (RVU) strength cv. Desiree 255.05 162.33 210.25 47.92 4.6 25.1 038VL008 404.83 113.25 151.33 38.08 3.36 13.9 108CF041 152.08 145.92 478.33 332.42 6.91 133.6 038VL107 385.5 153 197.58 44.58 3.78 13.1 110CF003 271.5 257.42 557.25 299.83 6.97 185

TABLE 6 Parameters of the RVA analysis of starch isolated from wild-type plants (cv. Desiree), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and a BEI protein (038VL008, 038VL107), and of plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and of a BEI and of a BEII protein (108CF041, 110CF003) in RVUs. The RVA analysis was carried out as described in Analytical method 2. RVA analytical method 2 (see also FIG. 2) RVA RVA RVA Max Min Fin RVA Set RVA T Gel (RVU) (RVU) (RVU) (RVU) (RVU) strength cv. Desiree 212.17 113.75 169.25 55.5 28.78 23.8 038VL008 354.58 45.92 89 43.08 15.61 15 108CF041 94.33 93.83 317.33 223.5 39.53 98.1 038VL107 322.58 86.58 138.67 52.08 22.13 12.3 110CF003 196.08 195.92 n.d. n.d. 39.99 189.2

TABLE 7 Parameters of the RVA analysis of starch isolated from wild-type plants (cv. Desiree), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and a BEI protein (038VL008, 038VL107), and of plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and of a BEI and of a BEII protein (108CF041, 110CF003) in RVUs. The RVA analysis was carried out as described in Analytical method 3. RVA analytical method 3 (see also FIG. 3) RVA RVA Max Min RVA Fin RVA Set RVA T Gel (RVU) (RVU) (RVU) (RVU) (RVU) strength Desiree 819.67 207.67 314.25 106.58 16.88 56.5 038VL008 n.d. 104.17 240.33 136.17 12.99 56.8 108CF041 612.33 604.25 823.5 219.25 39.83 356.1 038VL107 n.d. 175.42 271.5 96.08 17.27 32.8 110CF003 736.08 539.42 n.d. n.d. 33.18 375.1

Summary of the phosphate and amylose analyses: TABLE 8 Phosphate and amylose contents of starch isolated from wild-type plants (cv. Desiree), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and a BEI protein (038VL008, 038VL107) and of plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and of a BEI and of a BEII protein (108CF041, 110CF003). The phosphate contents in the C6 position of the glucose monomers and the total phosphate content of the starch are indicated in per cent based on starch from wild-type plants; amylose contents are indicated in per cent amylose based on the total amount of the starch, or in per cent based on the amylose content of starch from wild-type plants. Total Phosphate phosphate Amylose Amylose No. Genotype in C6 (%) in (%) (%) (% WT) 1 cv. Desiree 100 100 22 100 2 038VL008 346.4 255.2 19.4 85.8 3 108CF041 557.3 427.6 36.8 162.8 4 038VL107 225.5 182.8 19.7 87.2 5 110CF003 446.4 348.3 34.6 153.1

The analysis of the side-chain distribution of the amylopectin was carried out as described above. The table which follows is a summary of the contributions of the individual peak areas: TABLE 9 The table shows a summary of the contributions of the individual peak areas of the HPAEC chromatogram to the total peak area of wild-type plants (cv. Desiree), of 038VL008 and 038VI107 plants (potato plants with reduced activity of a BEI protein and of an SSIII protein) and of selected lines of the transformations 108CF and 110CF (potato plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII protein and of a BEI protein and of a BEII protein). The number of glucose monomers in the individual side chains is shown as dp. Glucose cv. 038VL units Desiree 008 108CF 041 038VL 107 110CF 003 dp 6 1.52 4.16 1.88 2.39 0.86 dp 7 1.4 1.4 0.63 1.42 0.59 dp 8 1.23 0.77 0.33 0.99 0.38 dp 9 2.05 1.42 0.74 1.79 0.75 dp 10 3.55 2.8 1.74 3.33 1.77 dp 11 5.16 4.41 2.92 4.96 3.46 dp 12 6.25 5.77 4.47 6.22 5.17 dp 13 6.71 6.7 5.63 6.87 6.35 dp 14 6.75 7.06 6.35 6.99 7.38 dp 15 6.48 6.76 6.62 6.65 7.63 dp 16 6.07 5.99 6.34 6.11 7.13 dp 17 5.6 5.21 5.81 5.49 6.3 dp 18 5.28 4.78 5.87 5.11 5.98 dp 19 4.99 4.74 6.17 4.94 5.91 dp 20 4.76 4.65 6.07 4.78 5.64 dp 21 4.5 4.46 5.65 4.5 5.26 dp 22 4.16 4.12 5.07 4.2 4.7 dp 23 3.77 3.68 4.59 3.78 4.19 dp 24 3.44 3.36 4.24 3.42 3.75 dp 25 3.08 3.09 3.86 3.07 3.49 dp 26 2.73 2.8 3.36 2.77 3.03 dp 27 2.39 2.58 2.95 2.37 2.65 dp 28 2.07 2.26 2.39 2.01 2.1 dp 29 1.67 1.87 1.87 1.71 1.69 dp 30 1.38 1.58 1.54 1.35 1.3 dp 31 1.07 1.28 1.02 1.04 0.87 dp 32 0.79 0.96 0.7 0.75 0.6 dp 33 0.57 0.69 0.6 0.51 0.51 dp 34 0.36 0.43 0.39 0.32 0.34 dp 35 0.22 0.22 0.19 0.17 0.2 Total 100 100 99.99 100.01 99.98

The peak chain length, whose value is the mean of the two chain lengths (given in DP) which contribute most to the total area under the peaks of the HPAEC chromatogram, is—in the case of debranched amylopectin—of wild-type plants at DP=13, in the case of 038VL plants likewise at DP=13 and in the case of the 108CF and 110CF plants, on average, at 15.

If the peak chain length of the transgenic plants is compared with the peak chain length of amylopectin of wild-type plants, the following values result for the peak chain length ratio (PCL ratio):

-   -   PCL ratio for 038VL=13/13=1     -   PCL ratio for 108/110CF=15/13=1.15

In addition, the starch granule morphology was analysed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

The surface of the starch granules of 108/110CF plants appears coated or raised with pore formation.

Moreover, the granule size determination was carried out using a “Lumosed”-type photosedimentometer from Retsch GmbH, Germany. The mean granule size of untreated starch samples was determined (Table 3). TABLE 10 Mean granule size values of starch isolated from wild-type plants (cv. Desiree), plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and of a BEI protein (038VL008, 038VL107), and of plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and of a BEI and of a BEII protein (108CF041, 110CF003). Mean Sample granule size cv. Desiree 29.7 038VL008 21.5 108CF041 20.8 038VL107 22.9 110CF003 20.7 Mean granule size [μm]

Example 3 Analysis of the Amylopectin Side Chain Distribution by Means of Gel Permeation Chromatography

To separate amylose and amylopectin, 100 mg of starch are dissolved in 6 ml of 90% strength (v/v) DMSO with constant stirring. After addition of 3 volumes of ethanol, the precipitate is separated off by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 1 800 g at room temperature. The pellet is subsequently washed with 30 ml of ethanol, dried and dissolved in 10 ml of 1% strength (w/v) NaCl solution at 60° C. After cooling the solution to 30° C., approximately 50 mg of thymol are added slowly, and this solution is incubated for 2 to 3 days at 30° C. The solution is subsequently centrifuged for 30 minutes at 2 000 g at room temperature. The supernatant is treated with three volumes of ethanol, and the amylopectin which precipitates is separated off by centrifugation for 5 minutes at 2 000 g at room temperature. The pellet (amylopectin) is washed with 10 ml of 70% strength (v/v) ethanol, centrifuged for 10 minutes at 2 000 g at room temperature and then dried using acetone.

10 mg of amylopectin are subsequently stirred for 10 minutes at 70° C. in 250 μl of 90% strength (v/v) DMSO. 375 μl of water at a temperature of 80° C. are added to the solution until dissolution is complete.

200 μl of this solution are treated with 300 μl of a 16.6 mM sodium acetate solution pH 3.5 and 2 μl of isoamylase (0.24 μ/μl, Megazyme, Sydney, Australia) and the mixture is incubated for 15 hours at 37° C.

A 1:4 dilution of this aqueous isoamylase reaction mixture with DMSO, comprising 90 mM sodium nitrate, is subsequently filtered through a 0.2 μm filter, and 24 μl of the filtrate is analysed chromatographically. Separation was carried out with two columns connected in series, first a Gram PSS3000 (Polymer Standards Service, with suitable precolumn), followed by a Gram PSS100. Detection was by means of refraction index detector (RI 71, Shodex). The column was equilibrated with DMSO comprising 90 mM sodium nitrate. It was eluted with DMSO comprising 90 mM sodium nitrate at a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min over a period of 1 hour. To correlate the elution volume with the molecular mass, the column used was calibrated with dextran standards. The dextrans used, their molecular mass and the elution volumes are shown in FIG. 9. Using the resulting calibration graph, the elution diagram was shown as a molecular weight distribution (FIG. 10).

The chromatograms obtained were further evaluated using the program Wingpc Version 6 from Polymer Standards Service GmbH, Mainz, Germany.

The total area under the line of the GPC chromatogram was divided into individual segments, each of which represent groups of side chains of different lengths. The chosen segments contained glucan chains with the following degree of polymerization (DP=number of glucose monomers within one side chain): DP≦11, DP12-18, DP19-24, DP25-30, DP31-36, DP37-42, DP43-48, DP49-55, DP56-61 and DP62-123. To determine the molecular weight of the individual side chains, a molecular weight of 162 was assumed for glucose. The total area under the line in the GPC chromatogram was then set as 100%, and the percentage of the areas of the individual segments was calculated based on the percentage of the total area. Results obtained from this analysis are shown in Table 11. TABLE 11 Side chain profiles DP 12 to 18, DP 19 to 24, DP 25 to 30, DP 31 to 36, DP 37 to 42, DP 43-48, DP 49 to 55, DP 56 to 61 and DP 62 to 123 for amylopectin isolated from wild-type plants (cv. Desiree) and from plants with a reduced activity of an SSIII and of a BEI and of a BEII protein (108CF041). The percentages indicate the modification of the individual side chain profiles based on amylopectin isolated from wild-type plants. Wild type 08CF041 c DP ≧ 11 100% 40% DP12-18 100% 50% DP19-24 100% 69% DP25-30 100% 91% DP31-36 100% 111% DP37-42 100% 116% DP43-48 100% 110% DP49-55 100% 107% DP56-61 100% 109% DP62-123 100% 157% 

1. A plant cell which is genetically modified, the genetic modification leading to the reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII proteins occurring endogenously in said plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEI proteins which occur endogenously in said plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEII proteins which occur endogenously in said plant cell in comparison to corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified, wherein said genetically modified plant cell synthesizes a modified starch, comprising starch which after gelatinization of a 6% suspension in water forms a gel with a gel strength that is increased by at least 300% in comparison with the gel strength of starch extracted from corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified.
 2. A plant cell according to claim 1, wherein said genetic modification comprises the introduction of one or more foreign nucleic acid molecules whose presence and/or expression leads to the reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII, BEI and BEII proteins occurring in the plant cell in comparison with corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified.
 3. A plant comprising plant cells according to claim
 1. 4. A method for generating a genetically modified plant, comprising: a) genetically modifying a plant cell, said genetic modification leading to the reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEI proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell, in comparison with corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified; b) regenerating a plant from, or using, said plant cell generated in accordance with a); and c) optionally generating further plants from said plant generated in accordance with step b); wherein said genetically modified plant cell synthesizes a modified starch, which starch after gelatinization of a 6% suspension in water forms a gel with a gel strength that is increased by at least 300% in comparison with the gel strength of starch extracted from corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified.
 5. A method for generating a transgenic plant according to claim 4 which synthesizes a modified starch, comprising a) genetically modifying a plant cell by introducing one or more foreign nucleic acid molecules whose presence and/or expression leads to the reduction of the activity of in each case at least one SSIII, BEI and BEII protein in comparison with corresponding wild-type plant cells which have not been genetically modified; b) regenerating a plant from, or using, said cell generated in accordance with a); and c) optionally generating further plants from said plants generated in accordance with step b).
 6. A plant according to claim 3, wherein said plant is a starch-storing plant.
 7. A plant according to claim 6, wherein said plant is a potato plant.
 8. Propagation material of plants according to claim
 3. 9. A method for generating plant cells, comprising genetically modifying a plant cell by using one or more nucleic acid molecules which encode proteins with the enzymatic activity of at least one SSIII, at least one BEI and/or at least one BEII protein or their fragments for the generation of plant cells according to claim
 1. 10. Starch obtained from plant cells according to claim
 1. 11. Starch according to claim 10, wherein said starch is a potato starch.
 12. A method for producing a starch, comprising extracting said starch from a plant cell according to claim
 1. 13. Starch obtained by the method according to claim
 12. 14. A method for modifying the starch of a plant, comprising generating a plant according to claim 3 and obtaining starch from said plant or starch-containing parts thereof.
 15. A plant obtainable by the method according to claim 4, wherein said plant is a starch-storing plant.
 16. Propagation material of plants according to claim
 15. 17. Starch obtained from a plant according to claim
 15. 18. Starch according to claim 17, wherein said starch is a potato starch.
 19. A method for producing a starch, comprising extracting said starch from a plant according to claim
 15. 20. A method for modifying the starch of a plant, comprising generating a plant according to claim 15 and obtaining starch from said plant or starch-containing parts thereof.
 21. A method for generating plants, comprising genetically modifying a plant cell by using one or more nucleic acid molecules which encode proteins with the enzymatic activity of at least one SSIII, at least one BEI and/or at least one BEII protein or their fragments for the generation of plants according to claim
 15. 